Cycling ‘Dream Team’ targets 13-gold sweep

Filipino cycling officials are leaving no stone unturned making sure that local riders will get to the podium in all 13 events lined up for the 30th SEA Games in November.

The Philippines wants to field a “Dream Team” for cycling.

“We are calling on all stakeholders to send their best riders for the Philippine team to the SEA Games,” said 7-11 Roadbike Philippines general manager Ric Rodriguez last Sunday.

“We want to win all gold medals in the road events so we need to field the best climbers,” he added during the presentation of the 7-11 riders, from the elite men and women to juniors, at the Golden Phoenix Hotel.

“In fact, I believe we can achieve (winning) all 13 gold medals. I’m very positive. I can see the capacity of our riders,” he said.

Five gold medals will be disputed in road race events while the rest will come in BMX and mountain bike. There are no track events in this year’s SEA Games due to the absence of a suitable venue.

Rodriguez, however, stressed the riders from the other major groups are welcome to join the Philippine team to the SEA Games.

He said the best climbers from the Go For Gold cycling program of Jeremy Go, Standard Insurance of Judes Echauz and Victor Paterno of 7-11 will vie for the five gold medals in the road race events.

PhilCycling president and Tagaytay Rep. Abraham Tolentino is spearheading the campaign with support coming from cycling godfather Bert Lina and his daughter, Donna May Lina.

Rodriguez mentioned Joshua Carino, Felipe Marcelo, Rustom Lim and Jonel Carcueva as potential gold medalists in the men’s road race (individual race, individual time trial and team time trial).

In the women’s side, strong bets include Irish Wong, Genesis Marana, Kim Nicole Obel, Jamaeca Cruz Arana, Marianne Grace Dacumos and Rica Molina.

“In the road alone the target is to win all the gold medals,” said Rodriguez, adding that PhilCycling is preparing a road course (in Tagaytay) “to make it suitable” for Filipino riders.

“We have the advantage in the climbs,” he said.