Election to solve cycling feud slated July 3

The leadership dispute in cycling has finally come to an end.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. has instructed the two factions in the sport headed by Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham Tolentino and former Philippine Sports Commission chair Philip Ella Juico to submit  to an election on July 3.

Cojuangco said he would personally attend the exercise as POC observer, adding that Tolentino and Juico have reached a compromise to end the leadership tug-of-war that hounded PhilCycling the past three years.

A source told the Inquirer that Tolentino will earn a fresh mandate as PhilCycling president while Juico has agreed to slide to vice president in the election to be held at One Esplanade in Pasay City.

A criterium race for under-23 riders on the Mall of Asia grounds will  precede the election.

“They’ve reached an agreement that is fair for both sides. The two sportsmen have set aside their interests for the good of their sport,” said Cojuangco.

Filipino cyclists were barred from competing in the Laos Southeast Asian Games three years ago after failing to secure their UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) licenses for the event. The national cyclists  grabbed four gold medals in the 2007 SEA Games in Thailand.

BMX rider Daniel Caluag qualified for the London Olympics slated July 27 to Aug. 12.