The cream of the crop and the up-and-coming of Philippine cycling will converge in Tagaytay City today to vie for honors in the 2019 National Road Cycling Championships.
Presented by Standard Insurance, MVP Sports Foundation and Tagaytay City, the National Championships will kick off with the individual time trial and team time trial races in the Men and Women Elite and Junior categories.
The championships will conclude with the road races tomorrow on an out-and-back course from Tagaytay City covering the Batangas municipalities of Nasugbu, Tuy, Lemery, Agoncillo, Balayan, Lian, Talisay, Calaca and Laurel.
PhilCycling President Abraham Tolentino will send off the competitors along with Tagaytay City Mayor Agnes Tolentino in the race managed by Ube Media Inc.-Le Tour de Filipinas and supported by One LGC, Air21, Go For Gold, Bike X Singapore and 7-Eleven Cliqq Air21 by Roadbike Philippines.
The races will also serve as a dry run for the 30th Southeast Asian Games cycling competitions set from November 30 to December 11. Besides the road races, Tagaytay City will also host the mountain bike and BMX events of the SEA Games.
“With close to 300 riders joining the national championships, it goes to show that competitive cycling is very much alive in the Philippines,” PhilCycling president Tolentino said. “Cycling remains as an active and enduring sport Filipinos love to practise.”
Registration for the Men Elite and Under 23 reached 114 riders, while 22 cyclists were booked in the Women’s division.
