Caption: Following the success of the Go For Gold Criterium Race Series 1 in the North, more local talent is expected to emerge in the Queen City of the South.
MANILA, Philippines – Riders from Visayas have the opportunity to show their strength in the Go For Gold Criterium Race Collection 2, which will begin on Sunday at Metropolis Di Mare in Cebu City.
Months after the Series 1 race in Clark, Pampanga, promising riders from the Visayas have their turn in this top-throttle one-day speed competition at the new Cebu criterium center.
One of the aims of the Criterium Race Collection, which is expected to attract 500 riders from different categories including elite men’s and women’s and under-23 races, is to pave the way for the discovery of more local heroes in cycling.
READ: Time Rules Go For Gold Criterium Race Series 1 at Clark
“Since Cebu is a hotbed of cycling and cycling talents, we hope there will be many viewers who tune in to our event,” said Go For Gold founder Jeremy Go.
“In addition to organizing safe and well-organized races to elevate the sport of cycling in the Philippines, these races serve to identify talents.”
Marvin Mandac, a 17-year-old from Batangas, caught the attention of the Go For Gold cycling team during the final leg of the Criterium Race Collection 1 after winning the junior category.
Marco Lumanog of Pangasinan also attracted attention after featuring prominently in the men’s elite class.
READ: Go For Gold achieves historic victory in national cycling championships
“Not all cyclists will have the opportunity, but this is a way to discover those talents. The best way to find them is to organize high-quality races that cyclists from distant areas can access and show their skills,” said Go For Gold project director Ednalyn Hualda.
Entries in the junior (17-18 years) and youth (15-16 years) categories, in the men’s 30-39 and 40-up divisions, as well as in the supervisor category will compete on the round trip route in the town of Di Mare.
The men’s elite will run for 25 laps on the flat 1.1 km course, while the women’s elite must complete 20 laps. The under-23 category must run for 30 laps, the youth and junior divisions plus the men’s 30-39 and 40 above will run for 20 laps and the supervisor’s group will pedal for 15 laps.
There is more than P200,000 in prize money, and the champion of the top men’s and women’s elite categories will receive P20,000 each.
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The last stage of this year’s criteria series is scheduled for September or October in Mindanao.
