Each year, riders from all over the Philippines sign up for what might be the country’s toughest bikepacking route: the Cebu Divide. No marshals, no support vehicles, no fanfare. Just your legs, your bike, and the long, punishing spine of Cebu.

For Eugene Cañelas, Mr. Mechanic with the coolest of cool vibes at Tambay Cycling Hub, it sounded like the kind of pain worth signing up for.

He joined the 2025 edition this past April, thinking his 500km ride from Manila to Aurora had prepared him.

Spoiler: it hadn’t.

What is the Cebu Divide?

The Cebu Divide is a six-day annual bikepacking event that takes riders through the highest peaks of Cebu. Known as the most grueling bikepacking route in the Philippines, it challenges even the most seasoned cyclists with its remote terrain and relentless elevation. The event is completely unmarshalled and unsupported: no aid stations, no shortcuts, just you and the trail.

Organized by PACGear Outdoors, the Cebu Divide strips bikepacking down to its rawest form, demanding not just strength and endurance, but total self-sufficiency.

The Bike Eugene Used

For the Cebu Divide, Eugene rode his On One Scandal, a robust bike built to handle the toughest trails. It was equipped with an 11-46 cassette and a 2×10 Deore XTR drivetrain, complemented by a Shimano GRX RD for smooth shifting. The bike was fitted with 29×2.25″ Vittoria Mezcal tires, offering solid traction for the challenging terrain.

Weighing in at 22kg (including clothes, gear, and other components), the On One Scandal was a sturdy companion for the brutal conditions of the Cebu Divide, proving that the right bike can make all the difference when navigating such a demanding course.

Day 0: Napagod Bago Nagsimula

Cebu City to Daanbantayan – 130km (bonus round)

While most would spend the day before a six-day sufferfest getting some last-minute rest, Eugene decided to ride to the starting line from Cebu City: an extra 130km to Daanbantayan.

Just because.

I was wondering if, by the time he got to Daanbantayan, his legs were already questioning his life choices.

He was one of only eight riders from Luzon, joining cyclists from Cebu, Bukidnon, and Caraga. The route hadn’t even started yet, but the real test had.

Day 1: Welcome to the Hurt Locker

Daanbantayan to Sitio Kabalawan – 96.19km | 1,531m

Things kicked off easy. Sort of.

The route rolled through some flats and gentle hills for the first five hours. Then came the climb: loose, dusty, and unrelenting. “The gradients were around six to seven percent,” Eugene said.

His completely optimized bike did its job. But the climbs don’t care about your setup.

If the legs weren’t ready, they were gonna learn on the first day.

Day 2: Graveling Through Existential Dread

Sitio Kabalawan to Sitio Kaorasan – 28.42km | 1,438m

Day two was shorter in distance but double in difficulty. He was pushing his bike for most of the late afternoon.

“Mas mabilis pa maglakad kesa mag-granny gear (it’s faster to walk than use your granny gear),” Eugene quipped. The climbs were that relentless.

“This is where I realized, shit, I’m not prepared,” he admitted. The day ended earlier than planned when exhaustion forced him to camp out.

We in the audience also realized, shit, the Cebu Divide wasn’t just a physical challenge.

It was self-inflicted psychological warfare.

Day 3: One Step at a Time

Sitio Kaorasan to Losaran Chapel – 38.75km | 1,555m

If day two was hard, day three was humbling. Nearly the entire day was hike-a-bike event. Eugene wrestled his fully loaded bike through singletracks and inclines that were too steep and loose for pedaling.

At this point, most riders, including our protagonist, had already stopped caring about speed. Survival and forward motion, however slow, was the new goal.

Day 4: The Fog

Losaran Chapel to Gen. Climaco — 38.3km | 1,144m

The fog rolled in as they neared Mt. Manunggal, one of Cebu’s most storied peaks. To Eugene, it felt like Tagaytay Hills… but with more fog and way more suffering. He did welcome the cooler weather though, an escape from the heat of the dry season.

But the rains added to the atmosphere and the difficulty. Slippery trails forced him to slow down, and the chill made rest stops even more uncomfortable.

This was also the point where Eugene began to find his rhythm again.

Painful, yes, but manageable.

Day 5: The Open Pit (of Despair)

Gen. Climaco to Sitio Luwak — 78.4km | 1,874m

This was the longest day so far in terms of elevation. The trail led them through an open-pit mining area, a surreal and slightly unnerving landscape. They crossed a murky river that Eugene suspects was connected to the mine.

Despite the unease, Eugene pressed on. He had been riding in wet shoes for days, feet battered and blistered, but momentum was on his side. Hopefully.

Day 6: The Final Ordeal

Toledo to Santander – 118+ km | Unknown elevation?

Eugene still had over a hundred kilometers left to cover, with two more major peaks—Osmeña Peak and Ablayan Peak—still standing in his way. It was a logistical misstep that nearly broke him.

“The longer you stay far from resupply, the harder things get,” he said. Nutrition and hydration became critical, and the mistakes of earlier days began to show. Still, Eugene pushed on. By the time he reached Santander, his feet were bloodied from days of friction, and he had missed the cutoff time.

But the finish line wasn’t really the point.

Lessons From the Divide

For Eugene, Cebu Divide wasn’t just a ride: it was a test. “Make a plan and stick to it,” he said. Resupply points, pacing, and sleep… none of these can be left to chance on a ride like the Cebu Divide.

He also emphasized the importance of community and local knowledge. “Always do a vibe check,” he smiled. “Learn local terms. Even if you’ve been to a place before, it’s never the same the second or third time around.”

Most importantly, he learned that being unprepared doesn’t mean you stop. You adapt. You carry on.

Cebu Divide is less about conquering the island and more about surrendering to it—recognizing your limits, pushing past them, and discovering what’s on the other side. Eugene may have missed the time limit, but he came home with something far more valuable: HIS ALIVE BODY, as well as his stories, scars, and a deeper sense of what he’s capable of.

And honestly, isn’t that what bikepacking’s really about?

We’re so proud of Eugene and we’re always looking forward to everything he sets his mind and heart to, and we hope he can come back strong in next year’s Cebu Divide… or (this is more of a me thing) join him in his cavalry.