AFTER narrowly missing the team title this year, erstwhile champion LPGMA-American Vinyl will begin its buildup in earnest early for the 2013 Ronda Pilipinas tentatively slated seven months from now.
Team management announced yesterday that the multititled cycling club coached by two-time Tour champion Rene Dolosa will see action in a three-day race in Indonesia next week to kick off its preparation to reclaim the crown it surrendered to Nueva Ecija.
LPGMA-American Vinyl team captain Irish Valenzuela also finished second overall to Mark Galedo. Both individual and team titles were worth P1 million each.
Valenzuela’s teammates tried hard to give their skipper the support he needed in the last two stages but Galedo expertly protected his 33-second lead at the end of the 15-lap Tour last Sunday.
“Things didn’t go our way but we’re proud of our riders and the coaching staff for their effort,” said LPGMA-American Vinyl party-list Rep. Arnel Ty, who co-owns the club with businessman Eric Sy.
After the Indonesian stint, Ty said the team will race in several local and overseas competitions.
“We are serious in getting the title back,” said Ty. “We’ll rest for a week and begin training at once.”
The team started poorly in the 21-day bikathon, finishing 12th out of 16 teams in the kickoff stage held in General Santos City.
Although it succeeded in taking second overall after the two difficult stages in Baguio, LPGMA-American Vinyl couldn’t overhaul Nueva Ecija’s lead of two minutes and 37 seconds in the two concluding laps that were disputed on flat routes.