MORE than 800 riders of all ages took part in the Ilocos Cycling Tour (ICT) 3 Intayon, the third leg of a series of cycling events aimed at reviving local tourism and help small and medium enterprises that were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic in Ilocos Norte.
Organized by the province of Ilocos Norte headed by Gov. Matthew Joseph Marcos Manotoc, the ICT 3 participants represented a cross section of the province’s residents who took part in three categories covering distances of 50, 100 and 150 kilometers.
The ICT is the most anticipated event in Ilocos Norte amid the pandemic that registration for ICT 3 Intayon took only one-and-a-half hours to close.
The first leg last October drew 357 participants and the second leg last December almost doubled with 669 riders.
With the success of the first leg, organized cycling clubs and local government units staged their own races staged under health protocols formulated by the Tasks Force Salun-at and the Provincial Sports Office.
Batac City, Medical Society of Ilocos Norte, Philippine Red Cross and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines ensured health protocols were observed during the three legs.
The third leg held last February 27 was the culminating activity of the 203rd Foundation Anniversary of Ilocos Norte.