Warring cycling groups join hands for Asian Games

The two warring groups in local cycling finally decided to come together in quest of an elusive gold medal in the Asian Games. Former cage executive Moying Martelino was delegated by the Philippine Olympic Committee to mediate between the two groups which have been on the warpath for years now. And Martelino was able to unify the two Philcycling groups Tuesday at the POC office in Pasig City for a common cause of producing the best athletes who will be sent to the Guangzhou Asian Games this November. “The meeting came out very well with both parties agreeing to work together for the formation of the national cycling team to the Asian Games," said Martelino after the meeting that lasted for close to two hours. UCI-recognized Philcycling president Abraham Tolentino failed to attend the meeting, but was represented by secretary-general Atty. Cornelio Padilla Jr. while the POC-recognized cycling body was represented by chairman Col. Arnold Taberdo and sec-gen Armando Bautista. “I made the proposal on how to conduct the tryouts and they aired their respective views. But in the end, both parties agreed on the mechanics on how to conduct the tryouts so the cyclist can compete in the Asian Games," added Martelino. The POC made the move to mediate so as not to see a repetition of what happened in the last Laos SEA Games where the national cyclists were bared from competing due to the leadership problem. Both groups agreed to come up with a list of riders who will join the tryouts set next month in Subic and Quezon City with officials to run the tryouts coming from the two cycling associations. “They will jointly run the race and will split evenly the number of officials needed for the tryouts," explained Martelino. Subic will host the tryouts for the road and mountain bike with the massed start and Individual time trial starting on July 9 and 10. The cross country will be held the next day. Selection for the track events will be held at the Amoranto Velodrome on July 11 and 12 and qualified cyclist will be forwarded to the POC by July 15. “Like other NSAs, they will have to justify every cyclist’s participation to the Asian Games. But what is important is that we gave the riders the chance to gain seat to Guangzhou with this unified tryouts," added Martelino. - RCJ, GMANews.TV