7-Eleven Roadbike riders main goal: 2012 London

MANILA, Philippines - Sending Filipino cyclists to the 2012 London Olympics is the ultimate goal of the major supporters of the 711-Roadbike Phils.squad, whose next overseas stint is the six-stage Tour of Thailand hitting the road tomorrow in the country’s mountainous northern province.

“We hope that with the help of our major supporter, 7-Eleven, we might see a Filipino cyclist competing in the 2012 Olympic Games in London,” team director Ric Rodriguez in yesterday’s PSA forum at the UN Shakey’s Avenue in Manila

Rodriguez was joined in the forum sponsored by Accel, Pagcor, Outlast Battery, and Shakey’s by Roadbike Phils. executive director Gary Advincula, PhilCycling board member Alex Billan and the 711-Roadbike-Phils. riders led by veterans Victor Espiritu, Lloyd Lucien Reynante and Merculio Ramos.

He, however, said that the cyclists who will compete in Thailand are Reynante, Sherwin Carrera, Sean Mark Guevarra, Ericsson Obosa and rookie Cortez in the six-day bikefest luring 26 teams from Asia, US, and Europe.

“The field will be tough but we believe we stand a good chance with this team against the other squads in the Thailand tour,” added Rodriguez, who disclosed that among their rivals will be five strong teams from Japan and the Taiwan-based powerhouse Marco Polo.

Rodriguez explained that 7-Eleven has a rich heritage in supporting the sport going back to the eighties when its teams were bannered by legendary riders like John Tomac and world mountain bike champion Andy Hampsten, the first American winner of the famous Giro d’Italia.

He pointed out that multi-titled Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong began his career with the US Team 7-Eleven.

Rodriguez disclosed that the team expects to compete in UCI-sanctioned races regularly for their riders to earn points so that they will eventually qualify in the Olympic Games.

Billan, who is head of PhilCycling’s Track Commission, pointed out that private sector support is vital in the development of the sport “because it complements what the federation is also doing.”

But both Billan, who is also one of team’s private backers, and Rodriguez assured PhilCycling headed by its president and Tagaytay Mayor Abraham Tolentino that the 711-Roadbike Phils. squad will always heed the call of the national interest when needed.

“Our plans and activities will never run counter to the plans and programs of the federation. Whenever the national interest is at stake, we will never hesitate to allow our riders to compete,” they said.