2,817 Triathletes From 41 Countries to Join Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championships 2016 in Cebu on Aug. 7

Some 2,817 triathletes from 41 countries will troop to Cebu for the Ironman 70.3 Asia-Pacific Championships 2016 slated on Aug. 7.

Princess Galura, the project manager of Sunrise Events Inc. (SEI), said they are meeting every month to prepare for the race, including a meeting with official of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7.

“We have a good coordination and cooperation with the DPWH. DPWH 7 Director Ador Canlas has said that after the repairs on Plaridel St. and Talisay they won’t start any new road constructions. The road constructions will resume only after Ironman,” Galura said.

Galura said they will also meet with the local government units, especially in cities that have new mayors.

The cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Talisay, which are part of the route of the 90-kilometer bike course of Ironman, will all have new mayors on June 30.

Galura said Cebu Province and Lapu-Lapu City have the same administration so the support stays the same.

“Our concern right now is to know the elected-mayors and have a courtesy meeting with them before the second week of June,” she said.

“We feel that they will support us because it’s not only for us but also for the tourism and the sport,” Galura said.

Galura added the cutoff for refunds is on May 15.

There were 25 individual triathletes and two relay groups who pulled out and the slots will be given to the triathletes on the waiting list and the foreign participants.

The Ironman 70.3 Philippines will be staging its fifth year in Cebu on Aug. 7.

This will be a special edition since the race is an Asia-Pacific Championships.

The world-class triathletes from different countries will be in Cebu for the event.

This will be the first time that the Philippines will host the Asia-Pacific Championship, which was held in Auckland, New Zealand last year.

The Ironman 70.3 race covers a 1.9-kilometer swim, a 90K bike and a 21K run, which is in the cities of Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Cebu and Talisay. (PNA) LDV/EB/MP/EBP