Princess Galura of SEI (seated, with microphone) is joined by some of the organizers and participants of the Giro D’ Luca cycling event in a press conference at the Trattoria da Gianni at the Crossroads. Also in the photo are (from left, standing) Ivan Carapiet, Gianluca Guidicelli, Jonel Borromeo and Rowena Montecillo (seated, rightmost). (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)
THE FOURTH edition of the annual Giro d’ Luca will feature a record-breaking field with 400 local and foreign cyclists putting their will and stamina to the test on May 20 to 22 in Bohol.
“There were a lot of people who wanted to join at the last moment but we cut it off. This is a very a challenging ride and we are hoping that everything will go smoothly,” said cyclist and triathlete Gianluca Guidicelli.
The cycling event is held to mark Guidicelli’s birthday.
“This started as a joke among my friends and I didn’t expect that this event will get this big,” said Guidicelli in the event’s press launching yesterday at the Trattoria da Gianni at Crossroads Mall.
Cyclists from Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia will be seeing action in the three-day multi-distance ride totaling 500 kilometers.
Local cyclists from Manila, Cebu, Davao and Bicol have also signed up for the event. Guidicelli’s son, actor Matteo, will also take part.
The event got a major boost when it partnered with Sunrise Events Inc.
“One of Sunrise Events Inc.’s objectives is to be able to encourage more people to adopt a healthy lifestyle through participation in athletic endeavors and I believe that events such as Giro d’ Luca is something that like-minded individuals can feel the joy and camaraderie of completing a non-competitive but challenging stage ride,” Fred Uytengsu, founder of Sunrise Events Inc, said in a statement.
Princess Galura, manager of Sunrise Events Inc., said the participants will be divided into four speeds and it will be up to the participants where to join.
Last year’s event drew 212 participants with only 40 cyclists managing to complete the entire course.
“We already have a lot of competitive races in the country and although this race is just for fun, this is also for training purposes for cyclists who are set to compete,” said Guidicelli.
Organizers said Bohol was chosen as the venue due to its cycling terrain, making it a perfect training site for cyclists and triathletes alike.
The event is also supported by the Department of Tourism in Central Visayas (DOT-7).
Giro d’Luca is also backed by presenting sponsor Ford, the province of Bohol, Bellevue Hotel, Nature Spring, Gatorade, Alaska, Shell Philippines, Specialized/Dan’s Bike Shop, Rudy Project, Sunlife Insurance, McDonald’s, Motorace, Kawasaki, Trattoria da Gianni, Titay’s, 2GO, Swatch, Leona’s Vellum and Belo.