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SPORTS BANTER | Panayam kay Sunshine Vallejos, PhilCycling Road Director  For more news, visit:  ►https://www.ptvnews.ph/  Subscribe to our DailyMotion Channel: ►http://www.dailymotion.com/peoples-television-incorporated  Subscribe to our YouTube channel: ►http://www.youtube.com/ptvphilippines  Like our Facebook pages: ►PTV: http://facebook.com/PTVph  ►Rise and Shine Pilipinas: https://www.facebook.com/riseandshinepilipinas  Follow us on Twitter:  ►http://twitter.com/PTVph  Follow us on Instagram: ►https://www.instagram.com/ptvph  Watch our livestream on:  ►http://ptvnews.ph/livestream/ ►https://www.dailymotion.com/PTVPhilippines  Watch our News Programs, every Mondays to Fridays  Rise and Shine Pilipinas - 6:00 - 7:00 am | 7:30 - 8:00 am Balitang Pambansa - 7:00 - 7:30 am | 12:00 - 12:30 pm | 6:00 - 6:30pm | 9:30 - 10:00 pm PTV Sports - 8:00 - 9:00 am Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon - 12:30 - 1:00 pm Sentro Balita - 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Ulat Bayan - 6:30 pm - 7:00 pm PTV News Tonight -  10:00 pm - 10:30 pm  Saturday & Sunday: ►Sentro Balita Weekend - 1:30 - 2:00 pm ►Ulat Bayan Weekend - 6:15 pm - 7:00 pm

Transcript

00:00PTV Sports is back and to give us an update on cycling, we have Ms. Sunshine Vallejos with us via Zoom.

00:10Good morning, Ms. Sunshine.

00:12Good morning, Ms. Sunshine.

00:15Good morning to all of you. Thank you for having me today.

00:20Thank you, Ms. Sunshine, for accepting our interview here at PTV Sports.

00:25Now, Ms. Sunshine, it's a very big year for our Philippine cycling.

00:29What can you tell us about the 2025 Philippine National Cycling Championships here in Tagaytay this coming February?

00:40Yes, so slated on February 24 to 28, our 2025 National Championships,

00:48this will be participated by different riders from club teams, our national teams especially,

00:56and then continental teams and other new riders coming from different places in the Philippines.

01:02So from Luzon to Mindanao, the participation of our National Championships,

01:08there will be three types of events.

01:12Of course, the Criterium, Individual Time Trial, and the Road Race or the Mass Start.

01:18And then it will be participated by five categories, by ten categories, men and women from Youth 1,

01:27which is from 12 to 15 years old.

01:31And then Youth 2 will be, Youth 1 is 12 to 14, and then Youth 2 category is from 15 to 16 years old.

01:41And then Juniors, which will be those aged from 17 and 18.

01:47And then under 23, riders aged from 19 to 22.

01:53And then our Elite, the highest category, 23 years old and above.

02:00So both men and women participation.

02:04In terms of the events or the maximum or limit of participation,

02:13to ensure the safety and the quality of our careers,

02:17we are limiting both Criterium and ITT to only a maximum of 60 riders.

02:24And then for the Road Races, there will be a maximum of 90 participants.

02:31Ms. Sunshine, this year, here in Tagaytay, the Philippine Road Cycling Championships,

02:38what is the difference compared to the last year that we had an edition of this type of tournament for cycling?

02:46For the venue? Well, for the venue, the Criterium Race and ITT venues remain the same.

02:55So for Criterium, we are in the atrium, around the Praying Hands,

03:00because we want to highlight the facilities that were made for cycling in Tagaytay itself.

03:09And then we want to establish Tagaytay City as the national cycling hub of the country, of course.

03:15And then the ITT routes will be the same.

03:19The juniors, if I'm not mistaken, will have the same routes as of last year.

03:27But for women and elite and under-23 men, that will change.

03:33So we will move it somewhere on the other side of Tagaytay,

03:37which involves the towns of Alfonso and the nearby towns.

03:43Yes, Ms. Sunshine, you mentioned that this is a national competition.

03:47So can you tell us where other provinces have qualified for this competition?

03:56We had qualifying races.

03:59We are thankful for local organizers who recognized RealCycling to sanction their events.

04:08So we have the Go For World Series, which was done in Clark, in Cebu, and in Jensan last year.

04:16We also had the Dinagyang Cycling Festival in Iloilo City.

04:22There's the San Leonardo Race held in Nueva Ecija.

04:29And then we also had the Open and Juniors category from Tour of Matabungay, which was done in Batangas.

04:42So there are other several races that were held, but I can't remember them all.

04:49There are a lot of places where qualifying tournaments for RealCycling are held, Ms. Sunshine.

04:56But how many years has RealCycling been around?

04:59And how were you able to organize these kinds of events with the participation and coordination of the different LGUs?

05:08Oh no, I don't think I can answer the exact number.

05:12I don't think I was born with RealCycling.

05:16Yes, but it's not actually RealCycling before.

05:19The name of the federation just evolved.

05:25I'm sorry, what's the last question?

05:28How were you able to organize these kinds of events that happen in different parts of the country?

05:37Well, of course, it's not me or not only the federation.

05:45It's a helping hand between the federation and the LGUs and the local organizers.

05:51The different stakeholders of cycling.

05:53Of course, in the Philippines, we can't do this by ourselves.

05:57Of course, hosting a national championship and other local races involves big money.

06:03It's a big need for us to be able to stage.

06:07And we are so much grateful to the different sponsors, both private and LGUs.

06:14With the help of our president, Kong Bambol, and the PSC,

06:19we were able to organize different races for the nationals, for big tours, and then for the local races.

06:28So, it involves not only the money, but the expertise and the knowledge in organizing events.

06:38Cycling is a high-risk event.

06:40We play on the road.

06:42So, the life of a person, the life of a cyclist, the officials, all the participants, even the audience on the road.

06:52It's very risky.

06:55So, the help of each of them really raises the standard and the safety of the race.

07:05So, it's the expertise of the organizers, the knowledge that they have, the expertise of the officials.

07:14So, in all races, I hope that even the local races,

07:21they would invite one or few national commissars to help them improve or raise the level of their races,

07:33despite of being a local race.

07:37Ms. Sunshine, let's talk about the participation of our riders.

07:41For sure, there are national team cyclists who will participate in our national championship.

07:47Do you have any particular names that you can mention?

07:50Who are the ones that we should expect to participate in our national road championships this February?

07:57Of course, it's mandatory being a member of the national team.

08:02You need to race and compete in the national championships.

08:06So, there are several.

08:08I'm sorry if I cannot name them all, but of course,

08:11Oranza, Judor, Tud-Tud, Jermin Prado, Angelica Altamarino, King Bonilla, Matilda Cruz, Maura de los Reyes.

08:26We have other riders, Jude Francisco, Marcelo Felipe,

08:37Ryan Tugawin, Joshua Pascual, and many more.

08:44Actually, those previous members of the national team and the current national team will be participating.

08:54Also, the Carcueva brothers from Cebu who have been training the entire year.

09:01They will also participate.

09:04We've seen local riders from different provinces in Iloilo.

09:10I've seen even young girls compete with elite or under 23 women who are good.

09:17We haven't seen them in the previous national championships or big races.

09:23But if you go there, you will see their passion.

09:28So, I hope everybody, especially those who will have a good race this coming 2025 national championships.

09:38I'm sure our cyclist fans will look forward to it.

09:42But Miss Sunshine, aside from the national road championships, there are also Asian road cycling championships.

09:48What are you preparing for this and what are the expectations of our viewers?

09:56The Asian road cycling championships will happen in February.

10:01That's slated from February 5 to 16, if I'm not mistaken.

10:06The ACC is a highly competitive event.

10:09Our national team's performance in 2024 was a learning opportunity and a stepping stone for this year's success.

10:20Our athletes, coaching staff, road commission, and the entire federation with the leadership of our President Pong Bambol

10:32have been working hard to improve our performance.

10:35Not only for endurance, but also strategically and scientifically.

10:41Now that we are into modern cycling, we need to strategize according to what's happening today.

10:50We have analyzed our previous performances.

10:54We've identified the areas for improvement and adjusted our training programs according to needs.

11:01That's what our veteran coaching staff are working on.

11:05Our goal this year is not just to compete, but of course to win.

11:10That's everybody's goal when you go to a competition.

11:13Also, we want to progressively elevate Philippine cycling to a higher level.

11:19We always recognize the competition, whether it's a major international event or an event abroad.

11:31We remain optimistic this year and we trust the dedication of our athletes and the entire team.

11:38We are confident that with these sustained efforts, we will achieve better results this 2025 or this coming February.

11:48Ms. Sunshine, for our viewers, how was our performance in the last 2024 Asian Road Cycling Championships?

11:57You mentioned that this is the foundation for this year's edition of this tournament.

12:03How was our performance last year?

12:08Well, it's not that high.

12:12We have no medal.

12:14The national team was not able to get a medal, but we had one in Masters.

12:21It's an eye-opener for everybody.

12:25Here in the Philippines, they race who is the best.

12:33But of course, when you say Asian cycling championships, this involves at least 30 countries in Asia.

12:43So, the level of competition is very high.

12:46I hope that the learnings that we have observed from 2024 will be a motivation to do better this 2025.

12:56Ms. Sunshine, there is another big competition for Philippine cycling, the SEA Games, this coming December in Thailand.

13:03How are the preparations for this biennial meet?

13:07Are there any names or rosters that we can include for the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand?

13:14Well, for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, we acknowledge the shift in cycling events.

13:22So, there will be track cycling to take center stage.

13:26So, there will be no road events in the 2025 SEA Games.

13:30So, while we do not have an established track team yet at the moment,

13:37we are already laying down since last year the groundwork to ensure that we have a Philippine team competitive lineup for this coming December in the SEA Games track.

13:50And then, as soon as the ACC and national championships conclude both this coming February,

13:57our road commission will continue its plan in identifying and recruiting track athletes from priorities given to the national training pool, of course.

14:11Because they are already there.

14:13But this is not exclusive.

14:15So, after identifying the riders and if we don't have enough numbers to compete for the 2025 SEA Games, of course, we will open this.

14:25Our coaching staff will scout and develop other promising cyclists who have potential to transition from road to track or who wants to go deeper into track cycling.

14:38So, the Philippines has a proud history.

14:41We have a good history in terms of track.

14:44We have a lot of track stars.

14:46We've earned a lot of medals from international competitions way, way back.

14:51So, I believe and we are optimistic that if we have the right talent and we have enough preparation and good preparation,

15:02we can replicate those past successes in the 2025 SEA Games.

15:06In fact, a key milestone now is the effort to inaugurate soon our velodrome.

15:14That's the first in Asia, indoor, I think.

15:18That is being built at the moment in Tagaytay City.

15:22So, it's a project made with the leadership of our president, Pong Bambol, who never stops.

15:30He has been instrumental in providing world-class facilities here in the Philippines.

15:35We have the BMX track in Tagaytay also and then soon we will have this velodrome in Tagaytay.

15:44We have established Tagaytay City Atrium as a good criteria race route.

15:50So, we hope this would allow our athletes to train and compete in international standards.

15:57So, the velodrome will play, once it's inaugurated and opened,

16:04it will play a crucial role in developing our track cycling program.

16:09Not only for the SEA Games but also for the long-term growth of cycling sport in the country.

16:17So, everybody's excited about this new chapter in cycling.

16:21This is Sunshine, the last question on my end.

16:24For this year, for sure, you are looking for the next generation of Philippine cyclists

16:30who can compete for the country.

16:32But this year, what are your specific programs for the grassroots program of Philippine cycling?

16:37In short, to find young cyclists who have potential and possibly will be part of the national team someday.

16:45Of course, number one in the grassroots program, we support the project of the PSC, Ipang Batang Pinoy.

16:51So, this is where we see everyone, because LGUs, it's a government thing, it's a government project

16:59where all LGUs nationwide from Lesion, Visayas, Mindanao would compete.

17:03So, these kids, these are the first ones we are looking for who can eventually become a member of the national team.

17:11I'd like to mention the results of Batang Pinoy last year.

17:17Last year, the gold winners, cyclists who were able to get the gold medal,

17:25we will include them in the ACC to see and give out knowledge to their effort in winning the Batang Pinoy

17:37and see their capabilities abroad.

17:40So, I hope this program will be acknowledged and recognized by all LGUs

17:47and we will have a better participation in the succeeding years of hosting the Batang Pinoy.

17:53And then, of course, the local organizers.

17:56The grassroots programs cannot be done by the Federation alone,

18:00but the LGUs, the race organizers from different parts of the country

18:06play a vital role in developing these grassroots programs.

18:11And then, what we are planning to do or what we have actually started is to sanction these races

18:17so that we can collaborate with the local organizers,

18:23give them pieces of advice so that the career can be improved, the route can be improved, the participation can be improved.

18:32And with our plans of encouraging, we encourage the local organizers actually to sanction their events

18:39with the field cycling so that together we can improve the level of the grassroots programs

18:47that would eventually lead these riders to a higher level in the national championships

18:53and eventually become a member of the national team and be scouted with different continental teams or big club teams.

19:02So, that's it.

19:03Ms. Sunshine, you have a lot of events this year.

19:07And of course, this is your chance, if you want to thank or invite someone,

19:12they can watch or know the details of your upcoming tournaments.

19:18Yes, so we are continuously developing the road cycling calendar

19:25and we encourage everyone to keep following the Field Cycling Facebook account

19:31so that you can see all the events happening not only for road but also for mountain bike and BMX.

19:40And also, as I mentioned earlier, our track events.

19:45So, just keep following and supporting field cycling with all of its activities

19:51and our private accounts of our coaches and other race organizers.

20:00We just, please, let us support each other and then I invite everybody,

20:06especially the riders, the stakeholders, different stakeholders of cycling to come and support us

20:13in the coming 20-25 national championships in Tagaytay.

20:17That will happen from February 24-28.

20:21And also support us, support the Philippine team in our fit in ACC this coming February 7-16.

20:31I believe there is a live feed from the Ceylan Cycling Association.

20:41So, let's give our moral support to all our riders.

20:45Thank you to everyone who supports cycling.

20:49Thank you so much, Ms. Sunshine Vallejos.

20:52She is the Road Cycling Director of Field Cycling and good luck to your upcoming events.

20:59Thank you so much, ETB Sports.

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