WHAT we have done in Cebu for Ironman, we can also do in Albay.
This in a nutshell was how Sunrise Events Inc. (SEI) General Manager Princess Galura described their preparations for this Sunday’s XTerra Albay.
The XTerra Albay is considered one of the biggest legs in the most grueling off-road triathlon in Asia with around 300 triathletes from 18 countries competing. And SEI is bent on making the race as memorable and unforgettable for the participants.
Galura told CDN that aside from the warm Filipino hospitality, participants are also in for a back-breaking challenge with a tough yet safe race course.
Galura also bared that the race will be much cooler compared to last year based on the latest weather update. It will feature a 1.5-kilometer swim in Lidong Beach, a 35k off-road bike course at the foot of Mayon Volcano and a 10k trail run at the terrains of the world’s most perfect-coned volcano.
Meanwhile, it was learned that some pro triathletes decided to skip the event since it’s training season for them for the Rio Olympics in Brazil.
“There are some pros who won’t be seen in action most specially our women’s pro defending champion Flora Duffy who is training for the Olympics. But we still have a solid line-up of pros and Filipino elites this Sunday so it’s still going to be action packed,” Galura said.
Leading the list of pro division contenders are defending men’s champion Bradley Weiss of South Africa, former grandslam champion Ben Allen of Australia, Guam’s Cameron O’neal and Charlie Epperson along with Michal Bucak of Crotia, Taylor Charlton of Australia, Hong Kong’s Hsieh Chung Sing, Australian Brodie Gardner and Cebu’s very own Joseph Miller.
The contenders in the women’s pro are Australians’ Dimity Lee Duke, Jacqui Slack and Lizzie Orchard along with Guam’s Micko Carey.
The Filipino elite contenders are Billy Biag of Camsur Tri Team, Boholano Emmanuel Comendador of Paseo de Loon, Rosalito Dagoy of MotorAce, Dexter Nonato of TWF-Reliance, Franklin Peñalosa of Green Planet Bikeshop, Benjamin Rana of Active Health Elite Team and Alfredo Sarrosa.
They will be joined by Noemi Andrea Galeos of Tri-Generals, Angelica Yvonne Limcojo of Team BMC and Anna Marissa Remigio of Team David’s Salon.
The race was held in the Municipality of Lilo-an, Cebu for four straight years before heading to Albay last year.
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