Cyclists hunt for nat’l team slots despite SEAG scrub

The postponement of the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) may have robbed cyclists of one opportunity to represent the country this year, but they will still be fighting tooth and nail for Philippine team slots in the PhilCycling National Trials for Road, which pedals off on Saturday at Clark Freeport in Pampanga province.

“[The SEA Games postponement] is disappointing, but as an athlete, I will still give my best,” said Mark Lexer Galedo, the men’s individual time trial (ITT) gold medalist in the Myanmar 2013 SEA Games as well as the 2014 Le Tour de Filipinas and 2012 Ronda Pilipinas champion.

Galedo is entered in both in the ITT and men’s criterium of the trials.Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance teammates George Oconer, last year’s Ronda Pilipinas winner, and veteran Ronald Oranza as well as Go For Gold leader Ronnel Hualda also vowed to fight it off in the trials that also feature the women’s ITT and criterium on Saturday and the road races on Sunday.

“These are the national trials and as national athletes, a lot is expected of us,” Oconer said.

Saturday’s races start at 8 a.m. with the women’s ITT followed by the men’s race-against-the-clock contest and at midday the criterium.

Activities at the Clark Parade Grounds get going at 6 a.m. with all participants—riders, race officials and staff—undergoing Antigen tests.