Amazing bike race in London
Left: Marvin Pacis with his medal and Franco Amian displays his medal.
Absolutely amazing!
That completely describes the experience I had watching the Prudential Ride London event, which virtually shut down the city for the weekend!
I flew in with PRU Life UK’s chief marketing officer Allan Tumbaga, brand and communication specialist Nica Riego, ABS-CBN’s Gretchen Ho, and photographer Tong Pascua for the three- day event. Also in the delegation were four riders: two from PRU Advocate cyclists Marvin Pacis and Franco Amian; and two pro riders Ronnel Hualda and Ismael Grospe Jr.
The family-oriented Prudential RideLondon FreeCycle event started things off on 10 miles of closed roads in central London. Riders were able to enjoy bike-based activities and entertainment at seven Festival Zones around the route.
Then the serious business took over, with the Classique pro women’s race, which was held on a 5.5-km circuit in central London. It is the richest one-day women’s race in the world, and was won by no less than Fil-American Coryn Rivera. It was with great pride that we watched her all throughout the race, biding her time, until she made her move in the final meters of the race to emerge victorious! The entire delegation happily celebrated with her when she accepted her medal on the podium.
More fun was up next with the Brompton World Championship, with more than 500 riders lining up for the challenge. This event had smartly-dressed Bromptoneers, as they are fondly called, from more than 27 countries racing their famous folding bikes around a 1.3-mile loop that passes through Buckingham Palace for seven laps.
Rules stated that no Lycra is allowed and the well-dressed contestants begin by running Le Mans-style from one side of The Mall to the other to unfold their bikes before starting their race.
It was so much fun to watch!
Ismael Grospe Jr. and Ronnel Hualda with Olympic champion Sir Chris HoyOn Sunday, the main event was upon us!
Club riders, local celebrities, and cyclists from all over the world, including our four traveling Filipinos were among the 23,438 who completed the Ride London event which was 160 kms. long.
There was also a shorter 46-mile event which also drew a huge number of participants.
It was a sight to see! From the starting point at the Lee Valley Velo Park inside the Olympic Park to the finishing line right down from the Palace, there was a sea of bikers, in all shapes and sizes, of all age groups, brimming with their smiles as they participated in what organizers reminded was a “ride” and not a race.
The event concluded with Norway’s Alexander Kristoff bouncing back after a disappointing Tour de France, to win the RideLondon-Surrey Classic, the men’s version of the race won by Rivera, which also had Australia’s Tour de France Green Jersey winner Michael Matthews, who incidentally finished third for the second year in a row.
After witnessing this event firsthand, I’m not surprised that the event has won so many awards already, such as the European Sport Tourism Event of the Year (2014), London Cycling Awards Event of the Year (2014), BT Sport Industry Awards: Participation Event of the Year (2013 and 2014), and UK Event Awards: Large Event of the Year (2013) and Sports Event of the Year (2013 and 2014).
Tumbaga said he travelled to London, not just to witness the event, but to draw inspiration for what he envisions — a similar event in Manila that will take the cycling community by storm
I can’t wait.
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