Posibleng makapagtala ng kasaysayan ang isang junior chamapion o rookie rider sa pinakahihintay na Ronda Pilipinas 2015 na iprinisinta ng LBC sa Pebrero 8 hanggang 27.
Ito ang sinabi ni Ronda Pilipinas Administration Director Jack Yabut kung saan, maliban sa bagong format, mas binigyan ng atensiyon ang pagdiskubre at pagdebelop ng mga batang siklista na kayang sagupain ang pinakamagagaling na riders sa bansa.
“We are expecting that we might have a rookie or a junior champion,” sinabi ni Yabut sa karera na bubuuin ng tatlong qualifying leg sa Mindanao, Visayas at Luzon bago ang championships round kung saan ay inaasahan ang bakbakan sa pagitan ng 108 Pilipinong siklista.
Ipinaliwanag naman ni Ronda Pilipinas Executive Project Director Moe Chulani na dahil kasali ang junior riders ay mas iigsi ang ruta ng karera base sa kautusan ng internasyonal na asosasyon na Union Cycliste International (UCI).
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“We had to follow rules that since there are junior riders, we set the distances of each race to some 120kms only,” paliwanag ni Chulani. “Though may bentahe ang veteran riders, we think medyo fair ang labanan sa mga bata.”
Matatandaan na huling tinanghal na Rookie of the Year, overall individual at team champion noong 1996 Marlboro Tour Ng Pilipinas ang dating miyembro ng national team na si Victor Espiritu. Ito din ang tinanghal na King of the Mountain at may dalawa pang idinagdag na Stage win.
“This year, we’ve veered away from the old practice of allowing teams to get their own cyclists by opening Ronda Pilipinas to anyone who has the guts and the heart to show their real mettle,” sinabi pa ni Chulani.
“Of course, the main goal is to get our young riders to compete and hopefully we can discover some and tap and train them for our national team as well as helping PhilCycling’s renewed focus on grassroot development,” giit pa nito tungkol sa mahuhusay na batang riders na nasa edad 17 at 18.
“We’re trying to draw for young talents, particularly the 17-18 age group. Of course, if they join, they will have their own specific rules to protect them. Overall, we want to unearth the talent out there,” ayon naman kay Yabut.
