New cycling prospects emerge in trials

A new breed of future cycling heroes were discovered in the ongoing Philcycling-Go For Gold National Junior and Youth Trials.

Second-generation rider Marcryan Mendoza beat arch nemesis Efren Reyes Jr. at the line to rule the junior’s plum while 15-year-old Aljim Martin flaunted his cycling genes in the youth category of the two-day tryouts designed to infuse new blood into the national team.

It was a case of sweet revenge for Mendoza, who sprinted in the last few hundred meters to nip Reyes by a wheel and complete the 78-kilometer race under the sunny skies that began and ended in Binubusan, Lian, Batangas.

Mendoza, son of veteran cyclist and duathlete Ryan Mendoza, shared a clocking of two hours and 11:04 with Reyes, who tactically caused the defeat of the former in similar fashion during the Tour of Matabungkay last month.

“I wasn’t really thinking of the rivalry. I just want to race for the national team,” said the 17-year-old Mendoza in Filipino, winner of the junior race in the Larga Pilipinas last month.

Martin rode solo for long stretches on the latter part of the 40-km race despite figuring in a crash early on to win by more than two minutes over his closest rival.

“I just broke away from the pack when I saw the chance,” said Martin in Filipino, cousin of Tour veteran and cycling star Ronald Oranza.

Josue Albert Decuzar placed second in the youth, two minutes and 18.59 seconds behind, followed by John Paul Laureta with an identical clocking as Decuzar.

A total of 24 riders in the youth will answer the starting gun during the individual time trial on Friday in Tagaytay City while 27 cyclists will participate in the junior ITT of the 17-under talent discovery program of the national team.