Giro D’ Luca cycling kicks off in Panglao

Celebrity Matteo Guidicelli (leftmost) and his dad, Gianluca, present the Yellow Jersey reserved for those who finish the 530-kilometer, three-stage tour. (Jade S. Violeta)

PANGLAO, Bohol – A mix of celebrities, triathletes, duathletes, mountainbikers, roadbikers and trail-riders start their quest for glory today in the 2015 Giro D’ Luca cycling tour in this famous tourist destination.

The race starts with a 200-kilometer stage from Panglao to Jagna.

During yesterday’s press conference at The Bellevue Resort Bohol, Giro D’ Luca founder Gianluca Guidicelli, the father of Cebuano karter-turned celebrity triathlete Matteo Guidicelli, reiterated the true purpose of the event, which is to raise funds for the training expenses and the education of two young deserving athletes through the Ford Forza Sports Foundation.

“I would like to tell you that one of the most important goals of this event is for us to be able to share many more sports programs to deserving athletes,” said the elder Guidicelli during the press conference also graced by screen actor Jeffrey Santos, Bohol Provincial Government representative Alfonso Damalerio II and Bellevue Resort Bohol resident manager Rommel Gonzales.

“Everybody did what little they could do for the event. I just hope and pray for the safety of all the riders in tomorrow’s opening day although everything is all set up for the event from the medical teams to the support teams,” added Guidicelli, who celebrated his birthday last May 25.

Damalerio, for his part, said the event is a big help  in the promotion of the tourism industry of Bohol, which was hit by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake last 2013.

Of the 175 riders who will heed today’s starting gun, 35 of them are female, led by celebrity sportscaster Dyan Castillejo, while the male participants are headed by runner Philip Dueñas and triathlete Elmo Clarabal, the latest tandem of athletes receiving the support of the Ford Forza Sports Foundation.