“It will be a very good pro race since we have the best in the best male and female categories.

A new three-loop race at the Mactan-Mandaue bridge gives the bike stage of the Ironman 70.3 Philippines Asia Pacific Championship a different look when it fires off Sunday at the Shangri-La Mactan Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City.

The organizing Sunrise Events, Inc. has decided to use the new route for the bike part of the 1.9km swim-90km bike-21.2km run event so as not to affect thousands of commuters due to the ongoing construction of the South Road Properties along the South Coastal Road which links Cebu City’s SRP to Talisay City.

“We think the new bike stage further adds thrill to the event. Now it has been changed to three loops from the usual M-loop using the SRP. The participants will now traverse the Mactan-Mandaue bridge six times,” said Princess Galura, general manager of SEI.

The SCR had traditionally been part of the route for the bike segment of the internationally renowned race.

With a record stellar cast ready raring to dispute top honors in the premier pro division, Galura expects a spirited battle from start to finish.

“It will be a very good, pro race since we have the best of the best in the male and female categories,” she said.

“We look forward to hearing feedback from the participants, particularly on the bike course.”

Aussie ace Tim Reed, winner here the last three years, headlines the star-studded men’s pro roster that includes Sam Betten, another top Aussie triathlete who considers Ironman 70.3 Cebu as one of the best Ironman events in the world, Kevin Collington, Brad Williams, Matt Burton, Luke McKenzie, Braden Currie, Matthew Chrabot, Josh Amberger, Nathan Groch and Brent McMahon.

Also in the title hunt are Mike Phillips, Casey Munro, Michael Raelert, Jakub Langhammer, David Mainwaring and Tyler Butterfield – all raring to prove their worth.

Czech Radka Kahlefeldt, winner of the Ironman 70.3 Subic last year and the first Ironman 70.3 Davao last March, looms as the triathlete to beat in the women’s side that also drew veteran campaigner Dimity Lee Duke, four-time Philippine champion Caroline Steffen and former Ironman Australia titlist Beth McKenzie.

Also tipped to contend are Anna Eberhardt, Lauren Goss, Bruna Mahn, Sabrina Stadelmann, Lisa Tyack, Lauren Brandon, Grace Thek, Mel Hauschildt, Simone Maier, Holly Khan and Manami Iijima.