Indonesia race: Filipinos confident

MANILA, Philippines — After a training stint in Europe, the LBC-MVP Sports Foundation Cycling Pilipinas team eyes a strong finish in the nine-day Tour de Sinkarak in Western Sumatra, Indonesia, set June 7 to 15.

American coach Chris Allison said the Filipinos will leave for Indonesia confident of their ability to do well against nine other continental teams and six national squads from Asia in the race that covers 1,250 kilometers of testy terrain.

Allison said sprinter Jerry Aquino Jr. will be added to the elite crop of young cyclists aged 20 years old and below.

The team includes Junrey Navarra, Mark Bonzo, Jemico Brioso, Joshua Carino, Ronald Oranza, Ronald Lomotos and Rustom Lim.

Aquino, who used to ride with the 7-Eleven Roadbike, impressed Allison after he finished second in the seventh and final stage of last year’s Tour de Singkarak.

“The resilience of our boys in Europe turned a lot of heads,” said Allison.

“Filipinos have the perfect body type for this sport. We can develop and send our grassroots talent to the top internationally,” he added.