RP riders eye 6 golds in SEAG

The national riders promised to win the overall championship in their event in the coming 23rd Southeast Asian Games, confident they can deliver six gold medals at the least because of homecourse advantage.

Having riders with bright prospect to reign supreme in eight events, RP coach Jomel Lorenzo said a harvest of six gold medals is their conservative prediction to contribute to the country’s cause in the biennial games set Nov. 27-Dec. 5.

Twelve cycling gold medals are at stake in the games with the mountain bike to be disputed in Danao, Cebu, the road race in Tagaytay, the criterium race along Roxas Blvd. in Manila and the track events at the Amoranto Velodrove in Quezon City.

"Because of our familiarity with the courses, I believe we can win up to eight gold medals. And with our successful stint in the recent Queen’s Cup in Thailand, I can say we can easily promise to win at least six golds," said Lorenzo during the PSA Sports Forum in Pantalan Restaurant yesterday.

"Even if the SEA Games is held tomorrow, the boys can deliver that number," said Joselito Santos, a former bemedalled rider who’s now a member of the coaching staff handling the RP team track bets.

Lorenzo said they expect to win the individual time trial race, the road race, mountain bike, criterium, the women’s cross country and at least three track events.

"We won the mountain bike the last time and it’s easy to defend the title. We won the silver in the road race and it’s now easy to turn it to gold," said Lorenzo.

"Our riders are physically and mentally prepared this time compared the last time in Vietnam. Then there’s the biggest factor which is our familiarity with the track and road courses," Lorenzo added.

Eusebio Quinones and reigning Tour champion Warren Davadilla, who won the mountain bike gold and the road race silver, respectively, in Vietnam, spearhead the RP team’s quest for the overall title at home turf.

Also in the RP team men’s roster are 2003 Tour champion Arnel Quirimit, 2002 Calabarzon Tour winner Santi Barnachea, Vietnam Games mountain bike bronze medallist Frederick Feliciano, Enrique Domingo, Lito Atilano, Ericson Obosa, Edwin Paragoso, Alvin Benosa, Arnold Marcelo, Joeffrey Talaver, Jan Paul Morales, Paterno Curtan and Alfie Catalan. — Nelson Beltran