Juico bats for unified cycling team

MANILA, Philippines - Integrated Cycling Federation of the Phils. president Philip Ella Juico yesterday batted for forming a unified national cycling team again next year as the Filipino riders brace for a series of top-level international competitions.

“There are international races and I think a Southeast Asian Games-like memorandum of agreement has to be formulated by the Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission, that’s my preliminary thoughts,” said Juico.

The former Philippine Sports Commission chair was referring to the system applied early this year when he and Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, president of the rival PhilCycling group, agreed to set aside their differences and form a united front for last month’s SEA Games in Indonesia.

Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr. supervised the formation of the squad that won two gold medals, courtesy of Alfie Catalan in the 4,000-meter men’s individual pursuit and John Renee Mier in the 40-kilometer points race.

The Filipino riders also brought home four silver medals courtesy of Joey Barba (mountain bike down hill 1.5km), Mark Galedo (180km massed start) and Apryl Eppinger (women’s 500m individual time trial and sprint) and seven bronze medals from Niño Surban (mountain bike cross country), Galedo, George Oconer, Lloyd Reynante, Ronald Gorantes (70km team time trial), Galedo (individual time trial 50km), Jan Paul Morales (10km scratch race and 4000m team pursuit), Mier (4000m individual pursuit) and Eppinger (5km scratch race).

Tolentino, whose association enjoys the UCI, the sport’s world governing body, recognition, however, didn’t comment of the possibility of putting up another unified team.

While forming a united Phl squad again is a possibility, finding a resolution to the leadership impasse in cycling remains far-fetched with both Juico and Tolentino insisting they’re the duly-recognized cycling group.