EDSA / C-5 host Go for Gold Larga Pilipinas race

C-5 cycling

The Filipino cycling community showed up recently for the Go For Gold Larga Pilipinas EDSA-C-5 Blitz Races this past weekend.

Close to three thousand competitors participated in eleven different categories, with an additional six thousand took part in the Fun Ride that ran across 24.8 kilometers stretching the two major road arteries in the Metro.

According to Larga Pilipinas technical consultant Atty. Froi Dayco, "This is not your ordinary race. This is classic. One for the book and one event that might not happen again."

Among the winners in the different races is Aidan James Mendoza, who claimed the Professional/Elite category. Along with John Mark Galedo and Jerry Aquino, Jr., the three managed an early breakaway from the pack, before Mendoza went on to clock a 23-minute and 18-second time to top the division over Jeck River and George Oconer.

He shared afterwards about the race, "Yan po kasing ganyan kaikli na karera, talagang buhos na agad yan. Di ka na dapat magpahinga riyan kasi kaunting pagkakamali mo sa ganyan kaikli na race, maiiwan ka." Mendoza would then add, "Saka nung nakita ko na beterano at mga laspag sa iba’t ibang karera yung kalaban ko, siniguro ko nang hindi ako mawawala sa harap."

In the other categories, Fred Chua ruled the Corporate Executives over Randall Hortaleza and Lance Asprec, while Albert Primero took the Masters title. Manuel Reynante claimed the Managers division over Alfie Tangzo and Alonzo Castro, with Athena Marana taking the Women's category over Marianne Dacumos and Kate Yasmin Velasco.

Completing the list of winners are Jarwyn Banatao for the Triathletes/Duathletes division over John Vyrom Lucero and Miguel Mapalo, Lorenzo Rellosa for the Amateurs, John Carlo Garol for the Under-21, and John Carl Reynante for Fixed Gear.

It was the second set of races that took place under the Larga Pilipinas banner, with the first one taking place in Marikina a month ago. Aside from Go for Gold, it is supported by PCSO Scratch It, Koten Enterprises, Nickel Asia Corporation, Excellent Noodles, Standard Insurance, Emperador Brandy, Juicy Lemon, Mother’s Best, Black Mamba, Boy Kanin, Aerox Quezon City Club, Versa.ph, Uratex Foam, MMDA and PhilCycling.