Finally, there’s unity and harmony in Philippine cycling.
A year after controversies and disputes hounded the athletes and stakeholders of the sport, Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco and the PhilCycling president, Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham Tolentino, have reportedly reached an agreement to unite local cycling following the staging of a unification qualifying race for the Asian Games recently.
The move is expected to pave the way for the POC’s grant of recognition to Tolentino as cycling’s legitimate president.
“I already talked with Tolentino and the outcome was good,” said Cojuangco, who acknowledged Tolentino’s effort to work for a better RP team composition in the Guangzhou Games in November.
“It’s really inspiring to all our cyclists that we’re united now,” he said.
The unification races, held at the Amoranto Velodrome in Quezon City and in Tagaytay City, produced 19 Asian Games-bound cyclists, led by Merculio Ramos, Baler Ravina and Marites Bitbit.
Tolentino, whose leadership is recognized by the Union Cycliste International (UCI), thanked Cojuangco and POC spokesman Joey Romasanta for initiating the holding of the unification races.
“This unification effort is not for individual interest but for all the country’s cyclists,” said Tolentino, who will issue licenses to all the qualified cyclists for the Asian Games slated on Nov. 12 to 27.