By MARK REY MONTEJO
Cycling is back to its breeding ground as elite and amateur cyclists vie for supremacy in the Go for Gold Race Series 2 at the City Di Mare in Cebu City on Sunday, June 30.
Home to fabled Tour champions like Jose and Manolito Moring, Rolando Pagnanawon, and Renato Mier, the sponsoring Go for Gold is hoping to discover new stars from Cebu in the event offering P200,000 in prices in 10 categories.
“Cebu is a proven hotbed of cycling talent, there’s a lot of talented riders there. That’s why I really made it a point na ang first stop namin in Visayas will be in Cebu,” tournament founder Jeremy Go in Tuesday’s PSA Forum presented by San Miguel Corporation, Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, Smart/PLDT and the 24/7 sports app in the country, ArenaPlus.
The Cebu leg also attracts bikers from its neighboring provinces in Palawan, Negros Oriental, IloIlo and Aklan.
Organizers are expecting 300 to 400 cyclists to join the event.
Go and commissaire Sunshine Vallejos stressed that one of the objectives of the event is to give opportunity to young cyclists to develop their skills be selected in future international events – notably the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“We want them to experience high-quality races, that’s why we work with PhilCycling. We want to be able to elevate,” Go continued.
“Kumbaga, lalong-lalo na sa grassroots, bata palang sila natuturuan sila at napapakilala na natin sila sa professional racing,” Vallejos added.
The Go for Gold Series 1 was held last March in Clark, Pampanga where more than 600 bikers participated.
