The country’s elite road cyclist would be banded in what the PhilCycling would call a “Super Team” whose principal objective is to qualify a Filipino to the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics.
PhilCycling President Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino gave the marching order to form the “Super Team” as he stressed on a stringent and comprehensive criteria that would determine the composition of the squad.
“We have one full year of achieving a goal of qualifying a Filipino cyclist to the Tokyo Olympics and we want to put together the best of the best on the national team,” said Tolentino, also a congressman from the lone district of Tagaytay City.
Tolentino outlined the criteria for selection that includes a cyclist’s performance in International Cycling Union (UCI) races, continental and national championships and domestic events, Asia and world ranking and the intangibles such as attitude, ethic and discipline.
“The PhilCycling will scrutinize the cyclists’ credentials and from there, a selection committee in the federation would determine the composition of the team,” Tolentino, chairman of the Philippine Olympic Committee, said.
A major reorganization of the national road and track team for men and women is in the offing with Tolentino confirming that the coaching staff would be included in the revamp.
Philippine road cycling got a shot in the arm last month with the victory of Navy-Standard Insurance’s El Joshua Carino in the Le Tour de Filipinas.
