Pru Life UK SVP and Chief Marketing Officer Allan Tumbaga, National Cycling Team members George Oconer and Marella Salamat, PhilCycling Road & Track Chairman Jun Lomibao
British life insurer Pru Life UK teamed up with Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (PhilCycling), National Bicycle Organization (NBO), Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), and the local government unit (LGU) of the Province of Bataan for the upcoming PRUride PH 2018, which is expected to be one of the biggest cycling events in the Philippines in the coming year.
A Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)-accredited (class B) event, PRUride PH 2018 is set to gather some of most competitive cyclists in the country and across Southeast Asia, including their respective national athletes, for two weekends – January 11 to 14, 2018 at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales, and January 21 at McKinley West, Taguig.
Partners for cycling advocacy
Touted as home of the Philippine National Cycling Team in all disciplines – road, track, mountain bike, and BMX – PhilCycling is the national governing body for cycling as a sport in the Philippines, and the only cycling organization recognized and sanctioned by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, and UCI, the world governing body for cycling.
“We have seen PhilCycling’s active role in keeping cycling alive in the Philippines, whether as a sport or as a way of living. And as Pru Life UK is committed to promote responsible and safe cycling, we are thrilled to be sharing this advocacy with them through PRUride PH 2018,” said Pru Life UK President and Chief Executive Officer Antonio De Rosas at a media launch held at The Brewery in Uptown Bonifacio.
For his part, PhilCycling President and Tagaytay representative Cong. Abraham Tolentino expressed his excitement for the event. “We are happy that companies such as Pru Life UK take the initiative to support cycling events – it definitely helps keep the cycling spirit well and alive in the country.”
“We are particularly thankful to Pru Life UK for hosting the prestigious Philippine National Road Championships, which was last held in 2014,” Tolentino continued. “PRUride PH 2018 will give our younger athletes aspiring to be in the national cycling team a platform to show off their competence.”
Renamed PRUride Professional Road Race in PRUride PH 2018, this event will take riders on a 160-kilometer course starting at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone up to the peak of historic Mount Samat in Bataan.
Pru Life UK also continues its partnership with NBO, an advocacy organization that champions cycling as an alternative mode of transportation and lifestyle. The two first teamed up in 2016 for PRUride to London, followed by the ongoing MyBGC Bike Lanes, which hold various activities for the community such as exclusive bike lanes, free bike lessons, and fun games, among others.
Cycling to promote tourism
Pru Life UK likewise tapped SBMA and the Bataan LGU for the two-weekend cycling festivities.
“We are also grateful to SBMA and Bataan for partnering with us for this ambitious event. We fervently hope that PRUride PH 2018 will help promote their tourism and show the world that the Philippines is at par with other countries as a cycling destination and in terms of the beauty of our country side,” said De Rosas.
Over 5,000 cyclists are expected to participate in a line-up of 29 racing activities, which will cater to a wide range of cyclists, from amateur and age-group riders to UCI license holders. Among the activities included are the Professional Individual Time Trial, Amateur Time Trial, and the 100-kilometer Gran Fondo – all to be held in Subic – and a repeat of the 2016 Criterium races in Taguig.
Learn more about the event and register by logging on to http://pruride.ph.
