The IRONMAN 70.3 Philippines marks its return to Cebu in post-pandemic times in grand fashion with another first – a new bike route on the longest and tallest bridge in the Philippines.
The August 7, 2022 race in Mactan will see more than 1,500 triathletes take on the country’s newest superstructure and Visayas’ new iconic landmark for the 90.1km bike leg of the race. The Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), an engineering marvel, is an 8.9-kilometer modern toll road in Metro Cebu, designed to withstand winds of up to 250 kph and hovers 52 meters above the Mactan Channel, as it links Cebu City and Municipality of Cordova.
This is the first time CCLEX is used as a race route for a sporting event since it started operations on April 30, 2022. Past IRONMAN 70.3 staging used the Marcelo Fernan Bridge or the second bridge in bike stages.
“What makes the IRONMAN 70.3 doubly exciting is that the new bike route will provide a new experience not just for the triathletes but for the Cebuanos and local and foreign tourists as well, the CCLEX being one of the newest attractions in the Visayas region,” said Fred Uytengsu, IRONMAN Brand Ambassador.
“With its well-maintained roads, patrol personnel, and a slew of other services, CCLEX is sure to provide the ultimate expressway experience to all motorists while guaranteeing safe and convenient travel. This smooth experience is something we’re looking forward to give to IRONMAN 70.3 Philippines triathletes,” said Allan Alfon, Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC) President and General Manager.
“We are constantly seeking new ways to challenge our triathletes as we continue to provide them an exceptional racing experience this year. With CCLEX as one of the highlights for this year’s race, there is even more for us to celebrate as we welcome the return of IRONMAN 70.3 Philippines” said Princess Galura, General Manager of Sunrise Events, Inc, race organisers for IRONMAN 70.3 Philippines.
SEI expects thousands of endurance athletes to descend on the Queen City of the South in three months, with the host city also putting premium on the safety of all participants in relation to the city’s health measures.
Tim Reed bested Kiwi champion Mike Philipps and fellow Aussie Tim Van Verkel topped the last IRONMAN 70.3 Cebu in 2019, as sporting events worldwide got scrapped following the surge of coronavirus.
Registration is ongoing on https://www.ironman.com/im703-cebu-philippines. (Press Release)
