Asia’s elite and international cyclists will converge in Iloilo City to compete for Gran Fondo New York (GFNY) Asian Championship this September 2019.
This is the second GFNY event in the country, and organizers have chosen 14 Iloilo municipalities and 2 cities as part of the routes for bikers to experience riding in beautiful countryside.
The hotly-contested race which will be held on September 22, 2019 will offer a world-class experience to nearly 300 cyclists from across the Philippines and from 15 nations. The competitive long-distance course is 133km and has 650 meters of climbing. There is also a non-competitive middle-distance course
covering 64km and 220 meters of climbing.
What’s more, the global cycling marathon brand which has held prestigious events in different places such as New York, Argentina, Bali-Indonesia, Brazil, Italy, Jerusalem-Israel will award GFNY Iloilo’s overall male and female winners in the competitive long-distance with flights, accommodations, and entry to the GFNY NYC World Championship next May 17, 2020.
The top 20% of finishers in each age group in the long route will also be earning a coveted start seeding in the GFNY Qualifier Corral for 380 days, including at the 2020 Campagnolo GFNY World Championship in NYC on May 17th.
Perfect location
Iloilo City has been awarded as the Most Bike-Friendly City last year during the PhilBike Expo 2018, and this is largely due to initiatives by the LGU and its local biking community. What visitors would notice as they travel around to its beautiful towns is the number of locals who commute on their bikes. Iloilo City has an annual bike festival, which is now on its 6th year. This bike festival is usually composed of different biking events and culminated with a fun ride.
Iloilo is famous for its culture and cuisine, with local and international tourists visiting the province to get their fill of heirloom dishes, along a tour of its historical landmarks. With the presence of world-class developers such as Megaworld in Iloilo, the city also boasts of modern developments that can cater to the MICE (Meetings, Events, Conventions, and Exhibits) segment of tourism as a host city for big international and national events. Iloilo has suitable and spacious venues, numerous hotels and F&B establishments, reliable transport services and very hospitable Ilonggos.
A partnership of advocates
Iloilo’s biking culture, in combination with its terrain, is what makes it a perfect venue for the GFNY
event, especially in combination with the advocacies of Bayanihan sa Daan awardees Arch. Wilfredo ‘Soi’ Sy, Jr., representing the biking community and Councilor Jose Efraim ‘Jay’ Treñas III, Executive
Director of Iloilo Bike Council.
Soi Sy was recognized for promoting biking as transportations and for organizing bike tours and putting up the first bike cafe in the city. Coun. Treñas was recognized for sponsoring bike-related ordinances and for being the biking community’s champion in the City Council. Together with fellow Presidential Awardee for the Bayanihan sa Daan Road Sharing project, Fondo Manila’s Coach Patrick Joson of Trygon Corporation, they have spearheaded the event to bring biking in Iloilo to an international level.
The event, which kicks off at the Iloilo Business Park, is a partnership between Gran Fondo New York, the Iloilo City Government and Iloilo Provincial Government.
Megaworld Corporation is the main title sponsor, with Courtyard by Marriott Iloilo and the Richmonde
Hotel Iloilo as the two official host hotels for bikers.
The pre-race expo and registration will be held in the atrium of the Festive Walk Mall. For more information about GFNY Iloilo, visit gfnyph.com.
