Executive road racing have been displacing professional bike events for years now. The reason of course is the infighting between the so-called cycling officials in the country. Just last month, a so-called unification tryouts for the Guangzhou Asian Games was held in Manila with our very own Nino Surban claiming 2nd place in the MTB XC event. There was a feeling that finally, RP cycling would have a unified stand after 13 cyclists were barred from joining in the last SEA Games. But there are rumors the winners of the tryouts will be eased out and instead handpicked replacements will represent the country in China. Of course, I'm not surprised. This sort of happening has been going since Adam was in diapers!!!
On the other hand, executive racing has been on the up and up. Last August 8, Jerome Rodriguez, John Gayatin and Ormoc's Phillip Sainz represented Cebu Cycling in the 7-11 Tour 500 in Tagaytay. This month, the same group, reinforced by Jong Sepulveda, Ned and Gerald Revilla, will see action in the CORRATEC challenge to be held in Subic Freeport. I really would love to race in Subic after hearing a lot of good things about the place but I guess I have to pick my races. But for sure, I will be going to Ormoc this October 3 for the Ormoc Medical Society Road Race and the Tour of Matabungkay later in the month in Batangas.
Executive racing is more about friendship, business opportunities and bottled up competitive juice that has been suppressed for a long time due to work and family commitments and cycling is a great way to unwind. According to the Wall Street Journal, professionals in the 35-45yo bracket has been pouring their money on carbon fiber bikes instead of Ferraris. What is true in the US is also true here in Cebu.
LA is fighting back
It seems Lance Armstrong is not waiting for the US Federal investigation with regards to alleged doping that occurred with his former team, US Postal, to simply go away. After hiring former veteran crisis guru Mark Fabiani last week, two former associates have spoken up in behalf of the 7-time Tour de France champion.
Pat Jonker, LA's teammate at US Postal back in 2000, said that he "didn't see anything." He also added that, "If I was subpoenaed to go to court and put my hand on the Bible, I'd go. This is not a game, it's very serious."
Who is Jonker? He is a Dutch-born Aussie who is well respected in the Australian cycling community. His biggest claim to fame was a 12th place finish in the 1996 Tour.
The other associate was the chief doctor for US Postal from 1999 to 2003. Luis Garcia del Moral said he never saw any doping programs in the time he spent with the team. "I never saw such things", the Spanish doctor said.
LA has stepped up his defense against the ongoing investigation that was based on the claims of Floyd Landis, the defrocked 2006 Tour champion and former LA teammate, that there was doping at US Postal during his stint with the team.