Cycle PH race fires off with young stars on spotlight

MANILA, Philippines – Kyle Echarri and Raven Rigor are set to energize the Sun Life Cycle PH event slated to flag off this Sunday, April 7, at the Ayala Vermosa Sports Hub in Imus, Cavite.

The two young actors will be participating alongside Piolo Pascual, a long-standing client and brand ambassador for Sun Life, who has been associated with the company for over a decade through the SunPIOLOgy, an annual charity event focused on health and education initiatives.

As emerging talents from Star Magic, Echarri and Rigor embody the spirit of maintaining health through enjoyable activities. While many opt for traditional workouts like gym sessions or running, a growing number have embraced cycling as both a form of exercise and a leisure activity.

Hundreds of participants across various age categories and skill set are all geared up for the event, featuring individual rides of 30km and 45km, a corporate challenge covering 60km, as well as special categories for children and families. These include a kids’ ride for ages 6-15, a family ride permitting a child to cycle with an adult, and tricycle rides for toddlers aged 2-5 over distances of 100 meters and 500 meters.

Meanwhile, the Sun Life Cycle PH Expo is set to open Friday at the Seda Hotel in Bonifacio Global City, serving as a gathering for fitness aficionados, according to the organizing The IRONMAN Group/Sunrise Events Inc.

Vermosa, a venue with a history of staging big sporting events like the Southeast Asian Games in 2019 and the IronKids in 2022, serves as host of the Cycle PH, supported by Lightwater, Manila Bulletin and Tempo, for the second straight year. For details, visit sunlife.cycleph.com.

Imus City Mayor Alex Advincula has reiterated the city's support for the event, highlighting its commitment to promoting cycling for its physical benefits and its appeal to young participants.

Launched by Sun Life in 2016, the event has previously featured cycling luminaries such as three-time Tour de France winner Robbie McEwen and local celebrities, including Pascual, Matteo Guidecelli and Donny Pangilinan, who are known for their passion for cycling.

Sun Life Philippines, meanwhile, has noted the growing interest in cycling among Filipinos, especially during the pandemic, and emphasized the event as an opportunity for the cycling community to unite.