THE return of the country’s biggest cycling competition in the Summer Capital has prompted Mayor Benjamin Magalong to possibly field a team for Baguio in the upcoming Ronda Pilipinas.
Magalong however said he will carefully look into the possibility of looking for local athletes who will train in cycling, saying Baguio athletes are used to endurance foot races but has yet to join cycling competition.
“Magandang pag-isipan yun na magkaroon tayo ng Team Baguio. Nakakalamang tayo, expanded yung mga lungs natin, hindi lang sanay sa patag yung mga tao natin siguro, hindi sanay sa mainit na klima,” Magalong said.
Daniel Ven Cariño of “Go for Gold” upstaged powerhouse Philippine Navy Standard Insurance, to win the 8th leg of the Ronda Pilipinas that started in Palayan City, Nueva Ecija and ended at the Burnham Park Lakedrive on Monday.
Cariño nipped Bicycology Army’s Marvin Tapic at the finish line as he led two of his teammates for the top four slots in what could be Ronda Pilipinas’ most challenging stage, a 177.1-kilometer lung-busting race that features a 5,000 feet climb.
Cariño towed a 10-man group at the finish line where all clocked an unofficial time of 4:30:04.
The group also included six of the Navymen, among them Ronda leader George Oconer.
Magalong said the possibility of Baguio fielding a team in Ronda will be studied carefully.
“Sa mga ganitong klaseng competition talgang babad ka sa araw. Mapapag aralan naman yan,” Magalong added.
City sports coordinator Gaudencio Gonzales is also open to the idea of having a Baguio team for the largest professional road cycling competition in the country sanctioned by the International Cycling Union and the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (PhilCycling).
“Kailingan siguro ng research sa logistics, training ng mga cyclist kung sakaling makakabuo ng team,” added Gonzales.
Gonzales added one of the idea they are entertaining is to employ cyclists who will train round the clock for national and international competitions which is practiced by Philippine Army, Philippine Navy and other armed services of the country.