The International Cycling Union (Union Cycliste Internationale, UCI) thumbed down the Southeast Asian Games Federation's appeal to allow the 12 Filipino riders to see action in the cycling competitions of the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane, Laos.
UCI president Pat McQuaid stood by his earlier decision affirming the recognition of the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (PhilCycling), which he made clear in his letter to Lao National Olympic Committee vice-president Kasem Inthara. As it is, riders with licenses issued by UCI are the only ones allowed to compete in tournaments that are sanctioned by the world governing body for cycling like the SEA Games. With the exception of Marites Bitbit, the rest of the cycling team belonging to a group recognized by the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), doesn’t have UCI-accredited
licenses.
Cycling accounted for four gold medals in the last SEA Games in Nakhonratchasima, Thailand through Bitbit (individual road race), Joey Barba (men’s downhill), Alfie Catalan (individual pursuit) and Victor Espiritu (points race). Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chairman Harry Angping lamented the misery suffered by the Filipino riders. "This was a lost opportunity for the country," said Angping. "Sending a team that would inevitably be prohibited from competing was a waste of resources. We could have assembled and sent the best qualified and licensed riders who have the biggest chance of winning at least one or two gold medals in this event." "Whenever the Philippines send its contingent abroad, we only send one team that is capable of representing and delivering gold medals for flag and country." But the POC through sports and rules committee chairman Go Teng Kok insisted that McQuaid’s denial was in response to the SEA Games Federation’s Dec. 5 letter. He claimed the association sent another letter to the UCI two days later where it emphasized that everything is set and the 12 Filipino riders are ready do battle in Laos’ first-ever hosting of the Games.
This was a lost opportunity for the country. Sending a team that would inevitably be prohibited from competing was a waste of resources.
– PSC chairman Harry Angping
At present, Go is in the middle of another round of meeting with the 11-man SEAG council, discussing the options left for the federation. Aside from Bitbit, the squad, which spent around P5 million for its training exposure and other expenses for this SEA Games is composed of Catalan, Barba, Irish Valenzuela, Jan Paul Morales, Eusebio Quinones, Frederick Feliciano, March Aleonar, Alvin Benosa, Scott Remie, Anna Marissa Remigio, Julius Bonzo and Ronald Gorantes. Incidentally, only Bitbit had been given the go-signal by the two warring group of cycling bodies to carry and compete for the country in the biennial meet.
– GMANews.TV 
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