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| Mark Arvin España Armendez atop the podium during the 2023 Batang Pinoy Nationals in Tagaytay City in 2022 |
THE PhilCycling National Championships for Road 2026 kicks off in Tagaytay City on Monday with a Masters category now part of the program and the Men Junior category being named after a young and promising rider from Pangasinan who lost his life last January.
Gone too soon was Mark Arvin España Armendez, who was a two-time Batang Pinoy gold medalist in road (Vigan 2022 and Tagaytay City 2023), as well as in the National Championships last year in Tagaytay.
The 18-year old cycling prospect passed away last January 22 while fishing using an improvised electric devise in a swamp behind their home in Barangay Palina East in Urdaneta City.
Competitions in the event, presented by Standard Insurance and the MVP Sports Foundation will be in Men and Women Criterium, Individual Time Trial and Individual Road Race in the Youth/Junior (12-13, 14-15 and 16-17-18), Under-23 and Elite.
There will be seven age groups in the Masters races of the event, which has the traditional support of the Tagaytay City LGU, led by Mayor Brent Tolentino. Winners will secure endorsements from the PhilCycling to the Asian Cycling Confederatiion Road Championships and all other UCI-sanctioned races.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, also head of the PhilCycling, hailed a big turnout of more than 300 riders in both genders, especially in the youth category.
“This is grassroots development at work,” Tolentino said.
The Nationals are in consonance with Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick “Pató” Gregorio’s emphasis on grassroots development.
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