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PhilCycling postpones races due to COVID-19 spike

Sports

PhilCycling postpones races due to COVID-19 spike

By Jeremiah Sevilla

As precaution for the sudden spike in COVID-19 cases in the country, the PhilCycling has postponed the national championships for road, mountain bike (MTB) and BMX disciplines which were supposed to be held in May and June at different venues.

PhilCyling president Rep. Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino bared the unfortunate development on Wednesday, March 17, noting the abrupt increase of COVID infections which recently breached the 5,000 a day mark.

"The priority is always the health and safety of everyone—cyclists, officials and fans,” said Tolentino, with the three events expected to draw close to 300 people.

“No questions asked. We’ll just have to wait until the pandemic is contained," added the president of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

The national championships are part of the criteria for the selection of the Philippine bets in the 31st Southeast Asian Games slated on Nov. 21-Dec. 2 in Vietnam.

PhilCycling secretary general Bill Sumagui has been working on the national tournaments since a week after the federation elected its new set of officers for the next Olympic cycle last December 29.

The road competition was scheduled to be held from May 5-8 under a sports bubble concept at the Subic Bay Freeport and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority was already informed about the event.

The routes have been identified already by the Road and Track Commission led by Sunshine Joy Vallejos, Oversight Commission headed by Jun Lumibao and national coaches for road Ednalyn Calitis Hualda and Reinhard Gorantes.

Competitions for the MTB and BMX, meanwhile, were supposed to take place in June in Tagaytay City, with MTB and BMX Commission head Oscar "Boying" Rodriguez and coaches Eusebio Quiones, Frederick Farr and Renz Viaje already handling the preparations.

The federation has also sent a letter of intent to stage the national championships to the IATF only to have it suspended.

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