National cycling tilt for road off and running

FILE–Ronald Oranza. Photo from PSC

More than 400 riders will see action on Monday when the PhilCycling National Championships for Road 2024 gets off the ground as they battle in criterium, individual time trial (ITT) and road races spread over five days.

Cambodia Southeast Asian Games double bronze medalist Ronald Oranza is one of the riders to watch in the race organized annually by PhilCycling president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, also the head of the Philippine Olympic Committee.

Among the other riders to watch in the championships presented by Standard Insurance and the MVP Sports Foundation are Maura de los Reyes in the women elite category and Kim Bonilla in the women junior class.

The top finishers will gain inside tracks to the national road cycling team for the next two years, primarily for the Thailand 2025 Southeast Asian Games.

Monday’s kickoff will feature the criterium events around a 2.1-kilometer circuit at Tagaytay City Atrium, followed by the ITT competitions on Tuesday in Tuy and Nasugbu in Batangas.

The road races in men and women junior, under-23 and elite categories take center stage from Wednesday to Friday.