Albay hosts Le Tour fourth stage

MANILA, Philippines – Albay will host the fourth stage of Le Tour de Filipinas 2016, where cyclists will circle the world-famous Mayon Volcano twice on an out-and-back course of the tour’s 147- kilometer final lap.

Le Tour de Filipinas, now on its seventh edition, passes Albay for the second time only in seven years, but its organizers said it could be the most scenic, rare and extraordinary route of the tournament.

The race, set Feb. 18-21, is sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the Asian Cycling Federation and the PhilCycling.

UCI, based in Aigle, Switzerland, is an Olympic body organized to supervise and help direct the growth of sport cycling worldwide. 

Sports has become an important component of Albay’s tourism, first introduced by Gov. Joey Salceda last year when he negotiated the hosting of Xterra Off Road Triathlon.