Chapeau!

It was an amazing 2006 for local road cycling in Cebu. And a giant "chapeau" is in order to the people who made 2006 the year to remember. From the Tour ni Frank in January to the coronation of Xerox Lauron as Cebu Cycling's "Road Cyclist of the Year" on New Years eve, it was the best ride in years.

The first TnF was held back in 1999 and it has grown from strength to strength. Who would have believed that Frank Gatdula, the Compostela guy who now lives in Stockton, California, would make true his promise to come back every January to hold a race here in Cebu?

Cycling is one sport that hardly get noticed from the government and corporate sponsors, but we are thankful to a few passionate men who share in our love of the sport. One such man is Richard Clarke, a Brit who is married to a Mandaue lass and works in Saudi Arabia. Nob, as Clarke is fondly called, is a proponent of the time trial discipline and is helping us in this department. In fact, Cebu Cycling will be holding a 10-miler (16K) ITT in the middle of this year. Another super guy is Roy Zapata, a director of the educational institution, CITE, has organized the Suarez Cup held in Leyte the past 3 years with the help of his relatives. This year, the race will be moved here to accommodate the growing cycling scene in Cebu. Al Figer, a nurse who used to live along Don Pedro Cui and who now lives in New Jersey, is also another cycling loco who now lives and breathes cycling. He has big plans this year and will be hosting the Tour de Figer here and in Samar. Glenn Rasco, an engineer from Tuburan who braves the desert sandstorm in Saudi Arabia just to ride. And if you think it is impossible to ride a bike in the dunes, think again.

Thanks, too, to Mark Ylanan and his officiating crew even if they knew that we couldn't compensate them like we should and not complaining about it. Who says it takes a rocket scientist to officiate bike races, like some people want us to believe?

And then there are Jong Sepulveda, Miguel Flores, Chris Aldeguer, Jojo Taghoy, Neil Duhaylungsod, Noel Ting, Ome Rodriguez, Boy Rabasol, Andot Rubi, Boss Boboy, Tata Codina of Alpine Electrical, Noy Jopson, Caecent of TF, Marian of SSD, RJ Balbuena, Xerox Lauron, Joel and Ati Concepcion, RUT Machine Shop, Sai Salazar, Quickflight, Kalit, Ames Urgel, Richard Patalinghug, Haylin Bardaje, Mayor Ramonito Durano, Boying Rodriguez, Eddie Filisopo, the brothers Larry and Stephen Chian, the owners of Spark Kleen Laundry Powder and Newman Chemicals...the list goes on and on.

On behalf of all the cyclists, thanks a lot, guys!

NFL Postseason

The NFL postseason Wildcard Weekend started yesterday with the Indianapolis Colts' defense shutting down Larry Johnson and the Kansas City Chiefs. But the 3 interceptions of QB Peyton Manning is something that has the Colts worried, as it always happens in the postseason. The second game was the wildest I've ever seen. With 1.19 to go, the Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo botched a sure (of course, there's nothing "sure" in sports, especially in the NFL) field goal 2-yards from the goal worth 3 points to lose a heartbreaker to the Seattle Seahawks, 21-20.

I've been inviting you guys to watch the NFL for years now and I still have no reason to tell you not to.

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