Fil-Am rider barred from US facility

MANILA, Philippines - Denied access to the US cycling training facility, Olympics-bound Fil-Am BMX rider Daniel Caluag had to look elsewhere for his final buildup for the London Games.

“He was not allowed by USA Cycling to train in their facility because he’s representing the Philippines in London,” said PhilCycling president and Tagaytay City Mayor Bambol Tolentino.

As such, the 25-year-old Caluag moved his training to the Netherlands, where he’s also participating in races there, and set the last stretch of his pre-games preparations in Canada.

“He will train for one week in the Netherlands and one week in Canada before heading to London,” said Tolentino, who earned a fresh four-year term the other day in a “unifying election” that also saw former Philippine Sports Commission chairman Philip Ella Juico get elected as vice president. 

According to Tolentino, Caluag will be in the UK capital by July 29, a good 10 days before his event pedals off.

Caluag, whose parents are from Bulacan, figured prominently in three tough qualifying tournaments, including the UCI BMX World Championships sa Birmingham, United Kingdom, to get the needed high-ranking points and a ticket to London. 

He is the only Asian to make it to the BMX event of the 2012 Games.