Tagaytay Velodrome to host Asian tilt

TAGAYTAY, Philippines — The newly-opened Tagaytay CT Velodrome will be broken in with its first major international race – the Asian Cycling Federation Championships.

“It was just confirmed today (yesterday). We will host the Asian Championships next year,” said PhilCycling chief and Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino during yesterday’s inauguration of the country’s one and only velodrome or cycling track.

Tolentino got the nod straight from Asian Cycling Confederation president Dato’ Amarjit Singh Gill, who was the guest of honor in the ribbon cutting of the venue that is the exact replica of the Velodrome Suisse in Switzerland.

Singh Gill said he expects around 350 riders from 45 countries including China and Japan to see action in the race set March 25 to 31 next year.

Paris Olympics double gold medalist Carlos Yulo, along with city Vice Mayor Agnes Tolentino, Cavite Gov. Athena Tolentino and Cavite eighth district Rep. Aniela Tolentino and several national sports association officials, graced the event that was the culmination of a decades-long dream.

“It’s our dream since 20 years ago,” said the Tagaytay City vice mayor.

National team mainstays Ronald Oranza and Jermyn Prado were the first to ride on the brand new track using track bikes that the country borrowed from Thailand’s cycling association.

“We still don’t have (track) bikes so I borrowed two from Thailand,” said Tolentino, who also said PhilCycling is now starting to form a track team for the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December.