Huelgas, Barnachea banner LBC Ronda Luzon qualifiers

MANILA, Philippines — A total of 322 cyclists headed by former champions Santy Barnachea and Irish Valenzuela and Southeast Asian Games triathlon gold medalist Nikko Huelgas aim for slots in the LBC Ronda Pilipinas main race early next year as they compete in the Luzon qualifying race on Saturday in Tarlac City.

Barnachea, 41, is looking to earn his spot in the main race tentatively set March 1 next year and a chance to shoot for his third title in this annual LBC-bankrolled race after winning the very first edition in 2012 and the fifth in 2015.

Valenzuela, the 2013 Ronda titlist who is now works in Dubai, will likewise return to action after sitting out the last two years following a road accident a couple of years ago.

For Huelgas, who is fresh from his gold medal conquest in the SEAG in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia last month, he is using this race to train as he trains for future triathlon races including the 2018 Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia and the 2019 Manila SEAG.

Junrey Navarra, the former Ronda King of the Mountain winner, is also hoping to make it back after skipping early this year.

Navy’s Jan Paul Morales, the reigning Ronda champ, is one of the 20 qualified riders but he decided to the one-day race, which stakes P30,000 to the champion, P20,000 and P10,000 to the second and third placers, respectively, as part of his preparation for a title defense.

Only 38 slots are up for grabs in the one-day race covering 180 kilometers of roads that starts in front of the Tarlac Provincial Capitol and ends on a mountain top at Monasterio de Tarlac.

Another qualifying race has been set on October 21 in Danao, Cebu, where 38 more spots are being staked.

LBC Ronda project director Moe Chulani said the champion in the main race will take home P1 million courtesy of LBC.

“The LBC Ronda Pilipinas is upon us again, and just like in our past editions, we’re hoping to produce champions and attract talented young riders,” said Chulani.