PROFESSIONAL riders and enthusiasts take center stage in Nuvali’s “Dirt Weekend” from November 6 to 8 in Santa Rosa, Laguna.
More than 1,500 cyclists from the US, France, Indonesia, Japan, Switzerland, Guam, New Zealand and the Philippines are expected to join the three-day event, sanctioned by the International Cycling Union (UCI) as a qualifying leg for the world championships.
“As we all know, climate change threatens us. And by promoting biking, together with the UCI, as a mode of transportation, we are helping fight this problem,” Nuvali General Manager John Estacio said during the event’s launch at the Mind Museum on Tuesday.
The race will feature four categories—UCI Marathon World Series, Cross Country Olympic, Cross Country 35-kimometer Fun Race and the Four Cross Race—each requiring unique sets of mountain-bike skills for the highly technical downhill competition.
The centerpiece is the Marathon World Series qualifying race, which enables top finishers to move up to the 2016 Cross Country Marathon World Championship in France.
“We came up here to the Philippines because we believe in the passion of Filipino bikers. UCI is also glad to strengthen our partnership with Nuvali because the trail fits the best standard for trail biking,” said Geoff Kronenburg, UCI technical delegate for the major cycling race.
Image credits: Ramon Rafael Bonilla