Pinoy BMX riders reel on bad breaks

MANILA, Philippines — Misfortunes struck Daniel Caluag and Patrick Coo as Thailand and Japan took the elite category gold medals and, more importantly, berths to the Paris 2024 Olympics at the close of the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) BMX Championships at the Tagaytay City BMX Park yesterday.

Caluag, the Philippines’ sole gold medalist at the Incheon 2014 Asian Games, lost some two seconds when his front wheel got stuck momentarily at the starting gate in the semifinals of the men’s elite race.

The London 2012 Olympian managed to get his desired speed and rhythm at the table top but couldn’t get into the final.

“Breaks of the game,” said Caluag, 36, who has never ceased to train in the US while juggling his profession as a registered nurse.

Coo, a former Asian junior champion, made the final and was in contention to break up front until he was caught in a tight bind also on the table top. He was unable to squeeze into the front in the process lost his left foot on the pedal and was left behind.