The Clark Freeport Zone in the Metro Angeles area will be the site of the national road trials set up by the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (PhilCycling).

The two-day event will see 111 cyclists disputing for a chance to be part of the national team.

Thirteen female racers will see action in the first portion of the trials, the women’s individual time trials (ITT) at 8 a.m. on July 10.

Then at 8:30 a.m. 54 of the 98 male cyclists invited will take part in their own ITT.

Later in the day, the criterium will take place in which the cyclists will ride around the Clark Parade Grounds for 16 (women’s category) or 20 (men’s category) lap.

“We will be witnessing competitive cycling right on Day 1 of the trials,” PhilCycling president Abraham Tolentino said.

The main event, the massed start race, will take place on Sunday.

For the ITT and the massed start race, the female racers will traverse a 17.1-kilometer route, while the male racers will cover a 24.6-kilometer loop.

“With the road races set for Sunday, this event is one compact competition,” added Tolentino, also the chief of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the PhilCycling road trials will be played inside a bubble, that is, spectators are not allowed to watch the event.

The participants will undergo reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and antigen tests. (PNA)