Countless crashes from the bike from the time she turned professional at 16 years old did not stop Fil-American sprint rider Coryn Rivera to achieve her goals of becoming successful at her chosen sport.
The 25-year-old Rivera, who was born and raised in the United States, continued to hone her craft in four cycling disciplines before amassing a total of 71 UST national Championships to date.
Rivera owed it to her Filipino parents.
“My parents are my role models. They’re hard working, and I think that’s one of the traits that I got from them,” said Rivera in yesterday’s meet-and-greet session with the press at the Shangri-La Hotel in Taguig City.
Much has changed since Rivera last set foot on her parents’ home soil 15 years ago. Not only she had flourished from the junior stage to the collegiate, under-23 and now, the professional category, but the cycling atmosphere in the country had evolved, as well.
“I was pretty surprised and impressed (yesterday) when I was riding for the first time in the Philippines in Tagaytay. I’ve seen a lot of people riding so clearly, the growth of cycling has been huge since the last time I’ve been here,” said Rivera, who is racing under Team Sunweb.
Rivera’s accolades have also grown over the past decade. Apart from US National Championship trophies, she is also currently the first American – male or female – to win the Tour of Flanders.
Gracing Pru Life UK’s PRUride PH 2018 on Jan. 11 to 14 in Subic, Zambales, Rivera said she hopes other Filipino riders can also find their track towards their goal making into the world stage.
One step would be to work their way up to the European scene.
“My advice would be to find their pathway to Europe because for now, cycling is really big, or kind of where the standard of racing is – in Europe. If that’s the goal (to be their best), that’s where they have to be,” said Rivera.
PRU Life UK’s PRUride PH will also be in McKinley West, Taguig on Jan. 21.
