THE TOUGHEST mountain bike riders in the country need to perform very well in Nuvali Dirt Week Invitational to clinch a slot in the national team for the Southeast Asian Games.
PhilCycling executive director Jojo Villa yesterday said the three-day race on April 26 to 28 at the Nuvali complex in Sta. Rosa City, Laguna, will be the qualifier for the cross-country and four other cycling events calendared in the biennial games to be hosted by Myanmar late this year.
SEA Games medalists and national team mainstays Joey Barba, Eusebio Quiñones, Frederick Feliciano, Alvin Benosa and March Aleonar will lead the national team prospects seeking UCI ranking points as well.
“Since the event is sanctioned by UCI and PhilCycling, this will be the basis to determine the riders we will bring to the SEA Games,” said Villa.
Apart from the four cross and cross-country events, organizer Athena Mendoza said cyclists can also participate in the road criterium, enduro, national championships for duathlon and fun ride for leisure riders. He said the race is a preparatory event for the annual Dirt Week in November.
Also present during the event launch Monday at Skinny Mike’s Sports Bar were PhilCycling secretary general Avelino Sumagui, Nuvali GM Aniceto Bisnar Jr., mountain bike national coach Arjuna Saulo and UCI international commissaire Beatrice Lajawa.
Saulo said the 38-kilometer course for cross country is 50 percent well-paved while the rest of the terrain is rough.