Cycling unifying race fires off today

MANILA, Philippines - The top riders from two groups try to settle the issue beginning today when they clash for Asian Games berths in the Koten Unification Races National Qualifying event at the Amoranto Velodrome in Quezon City.

The five-day races kick off with tracks events in the sprint, 1km individual time trial, 4km individual pursuit, Olympic sprint and team pursuit for male and female cyclists.

The men’s and women’s qualifier for Keirin and points race will be held tomorrow while the road race individual time trial and massed start will take place in Subic Bay on July 23-24.

The elims wrap up on July 25 with the staging of the extreme riders challenge featuring downhill and cross country events for mountain bike at the Subic terrains.

Meanwhile, SEA Games gold medalists Victor Espiritu and Alfie Catalan will not join the event with the former opting to go into coaching and the latter currently training in the Philippine Army.

The field includes riders from the Mayor Bambol Tolentino’s PhilCycling group and Col. Arnulfo Taberdo’s Integrated Cycling side, which figured in a turf war that led to the country’s exclusion from the last SEA Games in Laos.

The qualifiers are sponsored by Koten Enterprises, a Taiwanese Electrical Company, in cooperation with the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), Philippine Sports Commission, PhilCycling, Integrated Cycling, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority, 7-11 by Roadbike Philippines, Powerade, Coca-Cola, Viva Mineral Water, Zen Skin Institute and Grace of Shekinah School in Sta. Maria, Bulacan.