Philippine national cycling team purges aging riders

Rappler.com

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'I'm disbanding the team and forming a youth-laden squad because we're looking at the future,' said PhilCyling president Abraham Tolentino

Reigning Le Tour de Filipinas champion Mark John Galedo will banner the national team. Photo from Galedo's Facebook

MANILA, Philippines – Local riders Mark John Galedo and Ronald Oranza, and Filipino-American brothers Daniel and Christopher Caluag will form the core of the Philippine national cycling team after the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (PhilCycling) decided to revamp the aging roster.

PhilCyling president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said they wanted to gather the country’s best Under-23 riders that will be handled and trained by American coach Chris Allison to prepare them for future international tournaments.

“I’m disbanding the team and forming a youth-laden squad because we’re looking at the future,” said Tolentino, a former Mayor of Tagaytay City and the incumbent Representative to Cavite’s seventh district. 

“Our direction right now is to have Under-23 riders in all the disciplines. Those who failed to win any medal in the last SEA Games and are already over 23 years old will no longer be members of the national team and will have a tougher time of retaining their status,” added PhilCycling executive director Jojo Villa.

Galedo is the reigning Le Tour de Filipinas champion and Myanmar Southeast Asian Games gold medalist while Oranza won the 2013 SEA Games bronze in road race. Both are also former Ronda Pilipinas winners.

Daniel Caluag represented the country in the BMX event during the 2012 London Olympics and won the gold in last year’s SEA Games with his younger brother settling for the bronze.

All four riders are on the list submitted by Tolentino to the joint Philippine Olympic Committee-Philippine Sports Commission Asian Games Task Force.

LBC-MVP Sports Foundation riders Rustom Lim and Ronald Lomotos, Navy’s George O’Coner, Roadbike 7-Eleven’s Mark Bordeos, Ryan Boots Cayubit, Johnmark Camingao, Rudy Roque and Dominic Perez are also set to be included on the list of young riders for the Philippine team. – Rappler.com

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