Quirimit’s next mission: Gold in Hanoi Games

After restoring his beloved province to its treasured place in the annals of the sport they all love, Arnel Quirimit braces for a bigger war ahead the Vietnam War.

No sooner had he accomplished his mission to bring back Tour glory to Pangasinan than Quirimit made a commitment to give the country a cycling gold in the Southeast Asian Games in Vietnam in December.

"Mga ilang linggo lang ako magpapahinga at balik na ako sa training. Tatargetin ko ang gold medal sa SEA Games para sa bansa natin," said Quirimit moments after completing a triumphant campaign in the Air21Tour Pilipinas 2003 Sunday in Luneta.

"Tapos na ang mission ko para sa Pangasinan, kaya para sa bansa naman ang aambisyunin ko," added the 27-year-old Armyman who may be tapped to run the road race and the individual time trial in the coming SEAG in Hanoi.

He’s confident to finally win a gold medal in the biennial meet after a silver-medal showing in an Asian tourney in Taiwan and an 11th-place finish in the Asian category in the Tour de Langkawi recently. He finished second behind Hong Kong sensation Wong Kam Po—one time winner of the Marlboro Tour—in the Taiwan meet.

Bronze medallist in the last SEAG in Malaysia, Quirimit still considers Indonesian star Toni Susanto the man to beat in their events.

But Quirimit hopes the tour revival and the soon to be staged circuit races in the country prime up the national riders for the Vietnam joust.

"Magandang exposure para sa amin ang pagbabalik ng tour. At hindi lang ito, pati ang circuit races malaki ang maitutulong sa amin para sa SEA Games," the newly-crowned tour champion said.

"Importante talaga ang exposure. Iyun ang naging malaking lamang namin sa mga taga labas (non-RP riders) sa tour na ito. Kagagaling lamang namin sa Tour de Langkawi at nabatak kami doon. Ang lakas ng field. Biruin mo tutok lang kami ng tutok sa likod, pero pinagiiwanan pa rin kami," added Quirimit, who placed 68th overall among over 170 participants in Langkawi race.

Of course, aside from the SEAG, a possible back-to-back tour championships is also in Quirimit’s mind.

"Think positive ako lagi. Iyan ang natutuhan ko sa mga sinasabi ng European riders sa magazines. Sabi nila "ignore pain, think positive," he said. "Pagsisikapan kong manatiling kundisyon at next year siguro laban pa rin tayo."

Showing great strength, impressive staying power and good strategy, Quirimit won the Air21 Tour Pilipinas with plenty to spare, making the Pozzorubio town native the newest cycling hero from Pangasinan.

The traditional power in this sport, the province of Pangasinan has produced so many tour champions including Rufino Gabot (Manaoag) in 1957, Mamerto Eden Sr. (Mapandan) 1958, Edmundo de Guzman (Lingayen) 1962, Gonzalo Recodos 1963, Jesus Garcia Jr.

(Mangaldan) 1973 and 1977, Teodorico Rimarim (Basista) 1974, Samson Etrata (Binalonan) 1975, Modesto Bonzo 1976, Jesus Garcia Jr., Jacinto Sicam 1981-82, Romeo Bonzo 1983, Ruben Cariño 1984, Pepito Calip 1985 and Bernard Llentada 1991.

"Inaalay ko ito sa aking mga kababayan. Kahit RP team ako, dinala ko rin sa karerang ito ang aking pinagmulan. Mahalaga sa akin na taga-Pangasinan ang nag-champion," said Quirimit.

"Ang tagal na nilang (Pangasinan folks) naghintay na taga Pangasinan uli ang mag-champion sa tour. Kaya para sa kanila ito," he added.

Curiously, three other Pangasinense riders finished in the Magic 10 with Star carrier Enrique Domingo at sixth, Alfie Catalan at ninth and Felix Celeste 10th. Merculio Ramos from Tarlac, Warren Davadilla from Valenzuela and Rhyan Tanguilig from Nueva Vizcaya provided some challenge but Quirimit proved to be in a class by himself.

In the end, Ramos and Davadilla decided to just combine with their national teammate. Tanguilig, meanwhile, rued being abandoned by a teammate —Reynante — during his hour of dire need.

Tanguilig, who came within 1:39 of Quirimit after the 13th stage in Baguio, was one of only three non-RP riders to finish in the Top 10. He settled for fourth but drew respect from almost everybody in the tour including the national riders.

"Malakas siya. Tingin ko kaya niyang pumasok sa RP team, pero siyempre kailangan niyang dumaan sa trials," said Quirimit.

"Eh, dapat naman talagang nasa national team iyan," said Domingo, the tour Sprint King.

But the tour really belonged to Quirimit.

Here’s hoping that this Pangasinense rider also makes a mark in SEAG this December.