Riders target RP records in Doha

Although coy about their medal chances, national head coach Jomel Lorenzo said yesterday Filipino cyclists will be gunning to break three longstanding national records in the Doha Asian Games opening next month.

"This will be in the track team sprint, track team pursuit and the team road time trials," said Lorenzo in the PSA forum at the main function room at the Pantalang Restaurant in Manila.

Joining Lorenzo in the session were track coach Candido Quirimit, road coach Domingo Villanueva and the members of the track and road cycling teams under the Philcycling organization headed by its president Bert Lina.

Lorenzo, himself a former national rider, said should they surpass the standards in the three events "then I believe we have a strong chance of winning at least a bronze medal."

He cited the strong road squad led by former Tour champions Arnel Quirimit, Warren Davadilla, both grizzled internationalists, and reigning Padyak Pinoy titlist Santiago Barnachea, who will be up against road cyclists from Iran and Kazakhstan.

"Compared to the other Asian cyclists from Iran and Kazakhstan, our riders are small so they might go unnoticed. They could pull off a surprise," Lorenzo said.

He said that road cyclists are aiming to break the 11-year-old RP road team trial mark of two hours and seven seconds. Coach Villanueva was a member of the squad that set the record.

The road squad, which leaves on Nov. 30 three days before the start of the road competitions on Dec. 3, would also have an edge over the other Asian teams.

Lorenzo said, "because the races are set near noontime and our boys are accustomed to heat and humidity."

Lorenzo disclosed the fact that race route was along the coast of the seaside Qatari capital "so the strong wind will also play a big factor."

On the other hand, the track team is led by 2005 Southeast Asian Games track gold medalist Alfie Catalan, who will be pitted against tough oval riders from Japan and South Korea, among others.

The lone female rider, Maritest Bitbit, will be vying in both the road and track events, Lorenzo said.

The track team is set to depart on Dec. 5, three days before the start of the oval events on Dec. 8.