24 Pangasinan cyclists vie for Tour ’07 titles

By Jesus A. Garcia

THE country’s annual multi-stage bicycle road race called Tour Pilipinas was supposed to be staged before or just after the Holy Week. But the organizers postponed the summer road spectacle and decided to hold it after the election to avoid being used by some politicians who are out to take advantage of the event to enhance their popularity during the start of each stage—like what happened in the past— and especially during the awarding ceremonies every day.

I doff my hat to that. It’s a great idea by the tour organizers.

Unlike last year where the event was run in eight stages and was won by our province mate Santi Barnachea from Umingan town, this year’s Tour will be conducted in ten days from May 17-27. It will start and end in Manila with one stage to be hosted by Pangasinan, specifically Alaminos City on May 19 from Cabanatuan City passing through San Jose City in Nueva Ecija and the Pangasinan towns of Umingan, Rosales, Bayambang, San Carlos City, Lingayen, Labrador and Sual.

According to the report that I received, there will be 24 locals who will be battling for different honors which were fragmented in different teams led by defending champion Barnachea, 2003 Tour Pilipinas champion Arnel Quirimit of  Pozorrubio, seven-time Tour sprint king Enrique Domingo of San Carlos City, 2005 Rookie of the Year Renato Sembrano of Mangaldan, San Jacinto sons Reynaldo Navarro and Pepito Calosa, Asingan’s  pride Baler Ravina and Edilberto Orpilla, San Manuel stalwarts Harvey Sicam, Edgardo Bollezer and neophyte Eduardo Nardo, San Fabian’s best and Tour de Langkawi veteran Sherwin Carrera, Binalonan born Danny Ganigan, Joel Guillen and  freshman Ryan Serapio, Tayug lone entry Norman Pablo, Bugallon husky rider Renier Clauna and Barnachea’s town mate Emil Pablo.

Although not born in Pangasinan, I included in my list Tarlaqueno Merculio Ramos, Jr. as a Pangasinense now because since the time he got married in 2003, he now lives at his wife’s residence at barangay Anoyao in Binalonan. I was one of the sponsors during his wedding.

I also numbered RP team member Emilito Atilano, a Pangasinense now because despite being born in Roxas City, like Ramos, (being one of the godfathers during his marriage to a beautiful lass from Basista in 2004), he now stays at his wife’s hometown.

The 24 Pangasinan pedal pushers that I mentioned aim to bag some laurels not only for themselves but also for the province particularly the team and individual championships. The others are the Rookie of the Year plum, Sprint King, King of the Mountains and the Best Young Rider.

I believe we have big chances to win some honors. I also wish and hope that these two ‘dirty dozens’ will bring big achievements for the province like what our cyclists did before and are doing until now.

Their victories are also our triumphs.

Again, my provincemates, let’s meet them at their terminals to give them moral support like their stops in Alaminos City, San Fernando City, La Union and Baguio City.

These places are very accessible to us.

(For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/sports-eye/)

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