Galedo’s legs still sturdy, strong at 37

MANILA, Philippines — At 37 years old, Mark John Lexer Galedo is still the fastest Filipino road biker in the country.

The 2013 Southeast Asian Games gold medalist stamped his class against younger, hungrier rivals, ruling the men’s individual time trial of the PhilCycling National Championships for Road in Tagaytay City.

Galedo, one of the very few to win both the LBC Ronda Pilipinas and the Air21 Le Tour de Filipinas, timed in 52 minutes and 43.10 seconds in the 30-kilometer race from Nasugbu, Batangas to Praying Hands Monument in Tagaytay in capturing the gold.

The 7-11 Roadbike rider blew away the field that included 2022 Ronda runner-up Ronald Oranza and John Mark Camingao of Standard Insurance-Navy, who checked in 31 seconds and 2.22 minutes behind, respectively.

“I prepared hard because these are the national championships. I still feel them in my legs and I’ll go on riding,” said the ecstatic Galedo.

Fellow SEA Games gold winner Jermyn Prado continued to underscore her domination of women’s cycling as she topped the ITT in 39:14.20 for her second triumph after ruling the criterium race the day before.

Other winners were Nichol Pareja (men’s Under-23), Phoebe Salazar (women’s U23), Andrew Lumanlan (juniors), Samstill Mamites (youth), Raven Joy Valdez (juniors) and Kym Syrell Bonilla (youth).