Olympic-dreaming rider takes first stage

Nursing an Olympic dream, Ismael Grospe of Go For Gold Philippines Continental Cycling Team seized the opening stage of the PRURide PH 2019.

“It was a difficult race, but I know that winning will help me move closer to realizing my dream of representing our country in the Olympics,” said Grospe in Filipino after topping the 130.4-kilometer race in Subic.

The 20-year-old best young rider of the 2019 Ronda Pilipinas punched the air as he bested the international field of 156 cyclists from 18 continental teams in three hours, 15 minutes and 47.08 seconds.

Grospe, who will wear the red PRU Life UK jersey on Saturday’s second stage as the overall leader, also grabbed the blue CCN jersey for best Filipino cyclist and the black Rudy Project jersey (best under-23 rider) for good measure.

He also made Go For Gold godfather Jeremy Go more proud after picking up the green Robinsons Bank jersey for sprint points classification during the race made challenging by the hilly terrain in Morong, Bataan, and wind-swept ride from Hermosa town onwards.

“I always want to become a champion and achieve the things that my cycling idols had accomplished,” said Grospe, a fan of British cycling icon Chris Hoy, whom he met in London during the PRURide 2017 edition.

Hoy, the most decorated cyclist of all time, has won six gold medals in the Olympics and 11 world championship titles.

“I hope to win a medal [in the Olympics and in the world championships] someday. But for now, my immediate goal is to qualify for Tokyo (2020 Olympics),” Grospe said.

Korean rider Gong Hyo-suk of LX Cycling Team placed second overall, just a split second behind the lap winner.