GUANGZHOU—Filipino cyclists has again stayed at the doldrums at the Asian level of competition and unless a comprehensive program spiked with specific targets and handled by a competitive coach, they will remain there. “Ang kailangan natin ay isang mahabang programa para sa national team. At hindi sapat ang mahabang programa, ang kailangan ay intact ang national team, hindi lang sa loob ng isang taon, kundi higit pa doon,” said Lloyd Reynante, who, at 33, had his share of Asian level competitions but goes home with the rest of the team on Thursday empty-handed.
Reynante and Irish Valenzuela, a 23-year-old with a lot of promise ahead of him, were 26th and 24th in a field of 54 in the men’s road race. Reynante also competed in the individual time trial and finished ninth among 16 riders.
“Hindi pwede itong ganito na bubuuin lang ang national team kapag malapit na ang laban,” said the son of local Tour great Maui Reynante.
Marites Bitbit, who had forgettable stints in the points race of track and time-trial and massed start of road, wished the previous program that saw Filipino cyclists improve on their performance at least in the Southeast Asian level is always in place.
“Sana ini-implement pa rin ang time attack sa training namin,” said Bitbit, also 33, and like Reynante are not entertaining thoughts about retirement obviously inspired by Wong Kam Po, a popular Hong Kong rider back home, who won his third-consecutive Asian Games men’s road race gold medal at 37.
The PhilCycling, then under the leadership of Bert Lina, implemented the time attack through head coach Jomel Lorenzo. By time attack, cyclists are made to target certain times on periodic basis. The time attack proved effective as the PhilCycling recorded positive results beginning in 2003 in Vietnam (one gold), 2005 in Manila (two golds) and 2007 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand (four golds).
Bitbit also missed a podium finish in the 2006 Doha Asian Games by finishing fourth in the points race.
Short of saying that Lorenzo, who was accused by a group of disgruntled and “retirable” cyclists in 2008 of anomalies and abuse as a head coach but was eventually cleared by the Ombudsman, is perhaps the most qualified Filipino to coach a national team to date, Bitbit virtually sent a message to cycling leaders back home to adopt a program that would guarantee medals in major international competitions.
Bitbit, Valenzuela and Reynante, as well as young riders George Oconer and Renee Mier, trained in Melbourne for the Asian Games. But obviously, they did not benefit from the training.
Jun LOmibao, Business Mirror
