MANILA, Philippines – Riders, coaches and race officials are expecting a wide open contest in the second edition of the LBC Ronda Pilipinas, which kicks off with a short 20.6-kilometer team time trial in Sarangangi on Wednesday.

“Lahat ng teams ensayado, praktisado kaya mahirap sabihin kung sino ang mananalo,” defending individual champion Santy Barnachea, of the Philippine Navy-Standard, said.

“Mas mahigpit ngayon ang kumpetisyon dahil lahat ng teams matindi ang training.”

This sentiment was echoed by teammate Lloyd Lucien Reynante, who explained that majority of the 16 sponsored teams had extensively trained for the P7-million multi-stage bikathon presented by LBC and backed by Total, MVP Sports Foundation, Icom Idas and Rudy Project.

“Mahirap talagang sabihin ngayon kung sino ang siklista at team na mananalo kasi nag-buhos ang mga sponsors para maihanda ang mga siklista,” said Reynante, the 2010 Le Tour Pilipinas runner up.

He said his own squad had been training since January in Pangasinan and Baguio City.

“Lahat ng malalakas na riders ngayon kinalat at hindi lang nasa isang team,” he added.

But Reynante liked his PN-Standard’s own chances, considering that they also have experienced riders Eusebio Quinones and Eric Feliciano on the squad in its quest for fame and fortune in the 16-stage, 20-day bikefest.

When asked who among the riders posed the biggest challenge in his retaining the individual crown, Barnechea quipped: “Yan, si Reynante, matigas 'yan. Pero puwede rin si Joel (Calderon, last year’s Ronda runner-up) o si Baler Ravina, na nanalo ng Le Tour.”

Renato Dolosa, coach of last year’s team overall champion American Vinyl-LPGMA, likewise cited the balanced field.

“Kaya mahirap sabihin kung sino ang malakas na team at hindi. Hindi ka rin sigurado kung sino ang aangat na siklista sa individual competition,” Dolosa said.

“Medyo ang malalakas diyan ang Philippine Navy-Standard at Roadbike Philippines,” said Dolosa, the 1992 Marlboro Tour champion, whose own squad is spearheaded by versatile veteran Irish Valenzuela and Asiang junior championship bronze medalist Rustom Lim.

He singled out the lengthy rolling third stage, a 227-km. grind from Tagum City to Butuan City on Saturday, as a critical leg that could separate the contenders from the pretenders in the early going.