Audax 200km & 300km... the biggest in AudaxPH history
12/04/2017 | Carmela Pearson
We had a total of 545 registered participants, the biggest peloton to be released by Audax Randonneurs Philippines. There were 376 Audax 200km finishers and 120 Audax 300km finishers.
the start of the biggest peloton release in Audax PH history (photo credit: Redg Plopinio)
We were expecting a relatively cool Audax ride since we are now in the cooler months. Some had the shock of their lives with the extreme heat. Some suffered from cramping and heat exhaustion. We heard about a few accounts of cheating which has been discussed on a separate thread. Audax Randonneurs Philippines has already said its piece and is asking for everyone's help to be vigilant and call out these alleged cheaters. There are still some SAGs who don't know how to properly support cyclists and have done more harm to others than good. Due to the unexpected number of participants, our organisation ran out of medals and even brevet cards. We have learned from this weekend and will try to improve on those areas moving forward.
audax helmet traffic at the first checkpoint (photo credit: Francis Mark Mas)
Despite all the challenges last weekend, it was a weekend full of blessings. As I released the peloton at 4am, I am humbled by how much we have grown. I still remember those Audax rides back in 2011 where there were only a handful of us who will be doing these crazy distances. It has been a great journey since then and I am just happy to meet a lot of like-minded individuals in these rides. In this journey, we have seen how the Audax rides have been an equaliser among cyclists of different age, backgrounds, bike of choice and many more. Last Saturday, we were joined by long-distance cyclists from all over the Philippines - from Laguna, Bulacan, Batangas, Banguet, Cagayan Valley, Cavite, Sorsogon and even as far as Northern Samar, Davao, and North Cotabato. We had cyclists who flew in from Singapore, Germany and Switzerland.
one of the most beautiful bridges in Zambales (photo credit: Al Gonzales)
I was so inspired by randonneurs who did back-to-back Audax rides - Rizal last weekend and Subic this weekend. They just gave a whole new meaning to being an "Audax Addict". We had big-hearted participants like Nick Tesselaar (who raised Php 160K last saturday for the Payatas Orione Foundation) and Japo Parcero (who cycled 2,200km for children with cancer). I heard so many stories of strangers helping their fellow cyclists on the roads. Equally inspiring and worth mentioning is the presence of 60+ year old Mr. Elpidio Untalan, a podium-finisher in the Tour of Luzon Marlboro in 1986 and 1989, and how he showed everyone that he can finish a 200km audax ride with little effort. He got excited when I mentioned to him about the 60 and above category for the Race Across America qualifier we are organising next year.
the beautiful Zambales roads (photo credit: Redg Plopinio)
Thank you to David Charlton of David's Salon for his continued support since 2010. Thank you to Ms. Jola Gonzales for her leadership over the hardworking crew of David's Salon, who worked for more than 24 hours round-the-clock last weekend. Thank you to my good friend, Redg J Plopinio, we will have some fantastic photos to share. Thank you to #mangovalleyhotel for their support and to #100PlusPH for the drinks provided.
Last but not the least, we were blessed to have 544 brave randonneurs start last Saturday. The atmosphere and the energy you all exuded were unbelievable. We had no sound systems, no blaring music at the start, not much fun fare in every aspect of an organised cycling event... but those didn't matter. It was all heart. Maraming maraming salamat po!
Thanks to 100Plus for the refreshing drinks at the finish!
P.S. Photos from the camera of Redg Plopinio, Francis Mark Mas, Carmela Pearson and Al Gonzales
