By Jesus A. Garcia Jr.

 

NOT a few avid cycling enthusiasts in our province have asked me why our country’s performances in this two-wheeled event abroad have been deteriorating. Perhaps, it’s because cycling is my number one favorite sport, having brought home multiple honors to this beloved province of ours during my heydays. In fact, I dare say that cycling is the number two favorite sport of Pangasinenses, after basketball. After all, they know enough about Pangasinan cycling, particularly the fact that this province had already produced 20 national Tour champions since the birth of multi-stage racing in the Philippines then “Tour of Luzon.”

I share their thoughts why our country’s national cycling squad continues to deteriorate particularly during the 2023 Southeast Asia (SEA) Games held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Our provincemate, the 2016 Ronda Pilipinas champ Ronald Oranza of Villasis was the only road cycling event medalist who earned two bronzes in the two road race events. We hosted this biennial event which was originally called Southeast Asian Peninsular Games until 1977 when its name was changed to Southeast Asia Games. We hosted it four times – 1981, 1991, 2005 and 2019 – and our country dominated this event in 2005 and 2019, our national cyclist Benjamin Evangelista then was the best performer in the cycling event who won two gold medals. It was in 2005 and 2019 when we had our best finish, as the overall champions and our national cyclists contributed a lot then by winning several gold medals during these two years like what they did in 1977.

The 1977 Asian cycling version then headed by Benjamin Evangelista from Padre Burgos, Quezon won silver and gold medals in Asian cycling championships firstly in 1971 (silver) and 1977 (gold and silver) in the individual pursuit and time-trial events, respectively. My recollection says the quartet of our nationals Diomedes Panton, Deogracias Asuncion, Rodolfo Guaves and our province mate the late Edgardo Pagarigan of Barangay Bolaoen, Bugallon won the gold medal in the team pursuit category. In the 1983 edition, Philippines landed second overall behind Indonesia, our third best performance before 2005 and 2019.

Sad to say, but we’re now being left behind by our neighbors in SEA Games and particularly at the Asian Cycling Championships where we had zero medals. Obviously, there’s something big wrong in our national cycling these days. Our neighbors are vastly improving, overtaking us gradually while our national teams, cycling in particular are so slow in developing and enhancing their capabilities.

“Hanggang porma lang sila sa Facebook na kung maniniwala ka kaagad sa litrato nila ay parang napakalakas nila pero pagdating sa international races gaya ng SEA Games lamang ay medyo malayo na tayo sa ngayon sa pagkuha ng gintong medalya,” said cycling fanatic Jovita Evangelista of Mangaldan. I agree. Remember, SEA Games only have eleven participating countries composed of the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Laos and Myanmar. It is considered as the smallest international sporting events in the world but it means so much more to Asia, considered as the largest continent in the universe led by China. So, there’s something really wrong in our national sports development program especially our national cycling. What’s happening today never happened before. Modesty aside, being a 32-year veteran of this competitive sport, I know what is what, why is why, where is where and when is when in this two-wheeled sport invented by Baron Karl von Drals of Germany.

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK: “But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore, you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” LUKE 12: 39-40

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