The upcoming year is starting with a bang as Pru Life UK gears up for one of the biggest and most exciting cycling events in the country. The British life insurer has formally launched PRUride PH 2018, which is set on two weekends in January 2018.
The cycling festival’s first leg is scheduled from January 11 to 14 at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales. The second leg is set on January 21 at McKinley West, Taguig City.
This cycling event is touted to replicate or exceed the success of PRUride to London in 2016, the company’s first cycling event in the Philippines held in November 2016 at McKinley West in Taguig City. Over 1,000 professional and amateur cyclists participated in that cycling tournament and another 1,000 joined a bike community day activity that followed in Uptown BGC. The two winners of that competition—George Oconer (from the Philippine national cycling team) and Marella Salamat (gold medalist in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games)—were sent to Prudential RideLondon, the world’s greatest cycling festival, held in July 2017.
Pru Life UK SVP and Chief Marketing Officer Allan Tumbaga, National Cycling Team members and PRUride to London 2016 winners George Oconer and Marella Salamat, and PhilCycling Road & Track Chairman Jun Lumibao
“More than a gathering of the country’s most passionate cyclists, PRUride PH 2018 continues Pru Life UK’s commitment to promote responsible and safe cycling,” said Pru Life UK SVP and Chief Marketing Officer Allan Tumbaga. “We also hope to increase awareness on cycling as an alternative mode of transportation so we can all work towards having a safe and environment-friendly community for the generations to come.”
Here are three things professional and amateur cyclists can look forward to in this big cycling event:
1. A lineup of 36 racing activities
Up to 5,000 participants are expected to sign up to PRUride PH 2018. Thus, Pru Life UK is arranging several racing segments to cater to more cyclists. Among those to look forward to are the Professional Individual Time Trial, the 100-kilometer Gran Fondo, and Amateur Time Trial. These were also part of the Criterium races in 2016 and will all be held in the Subic leg. The PRUride Professional Road Race will test Union Cycliste International license holders by putting them in a 160-kilometer course going to the historic peak of Mount Samat in Pilar, Bataan.
2. The unique Filipino Brompton Challenge
For the first time, the popular and unique Brompton Challenge will be held in the country. This challenge will showcase two main events to bring laughter to participants and spectators alike.
First, the Slowest Lap Challenge will test the balance of the participants. The winner will be the slowest among them to cross the designated finish line without stepping on the ground.
Second, the Brompton Criterium will showcase folding bikes of its namesake (marketed in London as bikes for urban commuters) in a 30-minute race with two laps. Participants of this challenge are required to wear a formal top (barong Tagalog or Filipiniana top) all throughout the race. They will begin with their bikes folded at the starting line.
3. Big prizes
PRUride PH 2018’s total prize pool will be worth over P1 million. The top finishers of all Elite professional categories (both men and women) will receive P50,000 each. Six all-expense paid trips to London will also be given away—two grand winners of Elite Criterium in McKinley West, two winners of Professional Road Race in Subic, and two raffle winners during the Bike Community Days (after-party) activities in both locations.
All participants will receive a limited-edition PRUride PH 2018 jersey. All finishers will be awarded a finisher medal.
PRUride PH 2018 is organized in partnership with the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines, the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, the National Bicycle Organization, and the Province of Bataan. To register, click this link.