Track cyclists show worth in road event

THE PHILIPPINE cycling track team of Alfie Catalan, John Renee Mier, John Paul Morales and Arnold Marcelo will also compete in the team time trial event of the Burma (Myanmar) Southeast Asian Games this December.

The quartet submitted the best clocking of one hour and 27 minutes and14 seconds in a 70-kilometer ride from Lian to Balayan, Batangas, yesterday in the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (PhilCycling) qualifying race for the SEA Games.

Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance, made up of three-time Tour champion Santy Barnachea, Lloyd Reynante, Joel Calderon and George Oconer, placed second (1:28.21) while LBC-MVP Sports Foundation’s Ronald Oranza, Rustom Lim, Mark Julius Bonzo and Ronald Lomotas finished third (1:38.11).

“We simply showed that we can also win road events,” said national track team head coach Carlo Jasul, whose riders brought home two gold and two bronze medals in the track events of the 2011 Indonesia Southeast Asian Games.

Catalan won the gold in the 4-km individual pursuit and Mier ruled the 30-km point race. Jan Paul Morales and Arnold Marcelo copped bronze medals in the 10km scratch race and 4-km team pursuit.

At stake in today’s 144-km race that will start and end at Canyon Woods, Tagaytay, are slots in the road race of the Burma games set from Dec. 11 to 22. June Navarro