87 clubs eligible to vote in Philcycling elections

Eighty-seven clubs are eligible to participate in the January 16, 2009 elections of the PhilCycling, or the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines at the Amoranto Multi-Purpose Hall in Quezon City.

Also, a total of 22 club presidents have filed their certificates of candidacy in the exercise, which will determine the 15 members of the PhilCycling board.

A committee headed by PhilCycling board member and mountain bike (MTB) commission head Jojo Villa has screened the clubs for their eligibility to take part in the exercise, which is held once every Olympic cycle.

Among the candidates for the board are Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, Harbour Centre owner Mikee Romero, Danao City Councilor and MTB international commissaire Oscar “Boying” Rodriguez, former Tour champion Modesto Bonzo and former Tour contender and Talisay Vice Mayor Juancho Ramores.

Most of the incumbent board members, including former Eagle of the Mountain and Tour champion Paquito Rivas, who have been reduced to 10 following the resignation of five members who were elected in the September 2003 special elections, are seeking reelection.

Pat McQuaid, president of the Union Cycliste Internationale or UCI, the world governing body for cycling, is checking his availability in mid-January for the PhilCycling polls. He is also committed to oversee the election of the Cuban cycling federation early next month.

Choi Boo Woong, secretary general of the Asian Cycling Confederation, the continental arm of the UCI, and Haji Abu Samah Wahab, president of the Asean Cycling Association, are expected to attend the election.

Bert Lina is the incumbent president of the PhilCycling, which for the last four years have been responsible for the progress in the country’s performance at least in the Southeast Asian Games.

From the solitary gold medal won in the 2003 SEA Games in Vietnam, the country won two in 2005 in the country and hiked this to four in 2007 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. Those four gold medals in 2007 were the second best output by a national sports association, second to the eight of aquatics.