Cycling goes full blast next year, with or without vaccine

Philippine cycling will go full blast next year with or without a COVID-19 vaccine.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham Tolentino made this commitment after earning a fresh mandate as president of the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (PhilCycling) on Tuesday.

The Cavite representative announced his intention to stage the national championships for road, mountain bike and BMX in 2021 during his reelection as cycling chief even in the absence of a vaccine.

“I am looking at Clark or Subic for the national championships for road and Tagaytay City for BMX and mountain bike,’’ Tolentino said after the election at East Ocean Palace restaurant in Pasay City where cycling godfather Alberto Lina retained his post as PhilCycling chair.

Tolentino pointed out that races could go on inside a bubble environment even without a vaccine.

“If the PBA (Philippine Basketball Association) did it in Clark, we could do the same in Subic and Tagaytay,’’ said Tolentino, who was also reelected to a fresh four-year term as POC president last month.

Also retaining his post was Oscar “Boying’’ Rodriguez as vice president while the new members of the federation board were Alejandro Vidallo (treasurer) and Greg Monreal (auditor).

Reelected as members of the board were Jun Lomibao, Juancho Ramores, Paquito Rivas, Moe Chulani, Carlos Gredonia, Marcus Andaya and Jojo Villa.

The Philippines’ first female national road commissaire, Sunshine Joy Mendoza, was elected as a new member of the board along with Erwin Bollozos. Lawyer Billy Sumagui was also reappointed secretary general.

Tolentino anticipates a merger between the country’s top two road race organizers—Air21/Ube Media Inc., the force behind Le Tour de Filipinas, and LBC’s Ronda Pilipinas—in the conduct of road races next year.

Only Ronda Pilipinas was able to hold its races early this year before the country went into a series of lockdowns to curb the spread of COVID-19.

According to Tolentino, priority will likewise be given to the country’s campaign in the Tokyo Olympics, 31st Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam and the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Thailand where BMX will see action.