Asian Confederation Track tilt tipped to spark Philippine cycling revival

TAGAYTAY CITY, Philippines — Philippine cycling is literally back on track on the Asian map.

It came to be after the 45th Asian Cycling Confederation Track Championships was unveiled Wednesday at the Tagaytay City Velodrome, which will be the country’s first staging since it hosted this same event 31 years ago at the now demolished Amoranto Sports Complex track.

“Welcome to the Asian Cycling Track Championship. After 31 years, we’re back on track and this is a dream come true,” said PhilCycling president Abraham Tolentino during Wednesday’s opening ceremony of this weeklong meet.

Also simultaneously being hosted is the 14th Asian Para Track Cycling Championships.

Also present in the inaugurals were ACC head Dato’ Amarjit Singh Gill, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick Gregorio and commissioners Walter Torres and Ed Hayco, host Mayor Brent Tolentino, Vice Mayor Agnes Tolentino, and former Cavite Gov. Athena Tolentino.

Tolentino toned down expectations of how the Filipino cyclists would perform since the national track team has just been recently revived.

“I don’t expect medals since we’re literally back to zero,” he said.

The Philippine Olympic Committee chief, however, said this event and the new track should spur a great revival of the sport that produced three-time Southeast Asian Games gold winner Alfie Catalan decades back.