‘To dream the impossible dream’

By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

I BELIEVE most of our countless cycling aficionados are not aware that only two Asian cyclists have so far participated in the Tour de France (TdF) since its birth in 1903. They are Fumiyaki Bepper and Yukiya Arashiro, both from Japan during the 2009 TdF. But unfortunately the duo landed 112th and 129th, respectively, in the overall general standing out of 180 contestants that year, which was won by Spaniard Alberto Velasco Contador. These two Japanese pedal-pushers who are well-known in Asian road racings being the Asian Games and Asian Cycling Championships medallists, particularly Arashiro who won the gold medal last year  in the Asian Road Race Cycling Championship. In fact, Asian multi-titlist and 2007 world champion Wong Kam-po of Hong Kong never experienced to ride in the TdF for reasons beyond my knowledge. I could be wrong but my conjecture is all about the sponsor jam.

Asian professional cyclists, including those from Philippines, are eager and yearn to participate in the TdF, which is considered as the toughest, richest, longest, oldest and the most prestigious bicycle road in the world. Observers say that if you win a TdF title, you are deemed as more than a world champion because of the toughness of the 21-day course and the best cyclists in the world are all there to battle with each other in all kinds of terrain, especially the Alps and the Pyrennes mountains as well as the scorching and drizzly weathers. It’s a survival of the fittest at wala ka ng hahanapin pa ‘ika nga, as the late Gen. Romeo Espino, a former AFP chief of staff during the Marcos era, and himself a former cyclist, once said.

The latest news from the LBC courier firm, the principal sponsor of the 2012 LBC Ronda Pilipinas Tour, was it selected eight Filipino cyclists within the age range of 19 to 23 years old to be trained intensively for eight months abroad to work their way into qualifying for the TdF by at least 2020. Well, we are happy to say that one of the eight is our very own Mark Julius Bonzo, the son of the late 1983 Marlboro Tour champ Romeo Bonzo of Sual. LBC sports development executive director Javy Mantecon and LBC’s “Road to France” coach-in-charge Chris Allison from Belgium who handpicked the initial pool of eight riders said that with the Filipino’s size and physique, said we can showcase the Filipino talent and be recognized in world racing. They believe they could do extremely well in international competitions like  the fabled TdF.

Well, being an expert in this two-wheeled sport, the impression of the duo is really stupendous, and we have to be grateful to LBC for this brilliant idea that will be done for the very first time in this country. I know that a lot of money and perseverance will be needed here at hindi ningas kugon lamang, ‘ika nga, ang programa.

While I’m not belittling our Filipino cyclists, I believe eight years is not long enough to develop and expose our local riders in big cycling like the Giro d’Italia, Vuelta Espana and especially the Tdf. I would say at least 15 years or more to hit the big jackpot. In fact, we cannot even win the gold during the Asian continental games, unlike Japan, Hong Kong, Iran, China and Indonesia, how much more in TdF. We were only good for silver (won by Bugallon son the late Edgardo Pagarigan in the 1983 Asian Cycling Championship) and bronze (won by Victor Espiritu of Malabon City during the 1998 Asian Games), same in the Olympic Games (silver) with our boxers Anthony Villanueva in Tokyo in 1964 and Mansueto “Onyok” Velasco in Atlanta in 1996.

But anyway, to dream the impossible dream is not bad at all. Manny Paquiao is our best example, winning eight world crowns in different weight divisions which nobody has equaled or surpassed (so far) in the history of world boxing. He never dreamt the eight feats but simply to be recognized as a true world champion, not knowing that he can go beyond his original goal.

“To dream the impossible dream, to beat the unbeatable foe,” as the late English balladeer Mat Monro once sang, could just be true.

*      *      *      *

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: Jesus said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.” Now when He had these things, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” And he who died came out bound hand and foot with grave-clothes and his face was wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Loose him and let him go.” JOHN 11: 39-44

Back to Homepage

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments