Over 15,000 cyclists from all over the country and around the world pedaled their way towards Subic Bay Freeport Zone in Zambales for the 7th Terry Larrazabal Bike Festival (TLBF) held last April 2 – 5, 2009.The sports event, presented by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), Department of Tourism (DOT) and Caltex, aims to cultivate interest in sports, specifically biking. Furthermore, it aims to promote bicycling as an alternative means of transportation that is environment friendly.
TLBF, which started in 2002, is the only multi-discipline cycling event of its kind in the Philippines and Asia, where races and other activities are held for three days in one location. The races include road, mountain bike downhill, mountain bike cross-country, trials, and BMX freestyle and jumping, among others.
During the event, several races, stunt, and trial competitions were staged for enthusiasts and professionals bikers. These include Mountain Bike Cross Country, 4X, Dirt Jumping, and Downhill Competitions and the BMX Supercross and Dirt Jumping Competition.
Former Philippine Bicycle Team member Baby Marites Bitbit dominated the women’s division while March McQuinn Aleonar from the Philippine Army ruled in the Elite Pro division of the Mountain Bike Cross Country category.
For the first time ever in its history, this year’s edition of the TLBF included a triathlon where Mr. Mathieu O’Halloran finished first in the 1.5km swim, 40km bike and 10km run in 1:27:25. He was followed by Mr. Mark Ellis with 1:43:39 and Mr. Antonio Lopez with 1:47:30.
Aside from competitions, the TLBF held the 2009 FilBike Bicycle Expo where former Multiple-UCI World Champion and Mountain Bike Hall of Famer Hans “No Way” Rey talked about Wheels 4 Life, a non-profit foundation that has been assisting the less privileged in acquiring a bike. This year’s winner of the Downhill competition, current Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) 4X World Champion Brian Lopes, also shared his experience in competing in a World Cup. International bike builder Jeff Jones, winner of the 3rd Philippine Trials Competition, revealed the philosophy behind designing non suspended bicycles. While Banshee Bikes Chief Operating Officer Mr. Jay Macneil talked about Bicycle suspension 101.
The 7th Terry Larrazabal Bike Festival is co-presented by Inquirer.net , Yehey.com and Bike Town Cyclery, sponsored by Gatorade, Smart Communications, Rudy Project Eyewear, Jägermeister, Business Mirror, Pinoy Bikes, Chris Sports, Deuter Bags, Cafe Breton, Sportspray, Enervon-C Multivitamins, Flanax, and the following media partners: Dirt Rag Mountain Bike Magazine, Men's Health Magazine, Women’s Health Magazine, MTV Philippines, XFM 92.3, Wave 89.1, and Philippine Daily Inquirer.
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