Tag: Series

Sprint king Jan Paul Morales rules Go For Gold Criterium Series 2

On: By: admin


Jan Paul Morales rules the Go For Gold Criterium Race Series 2 in Cebu City.

Jan Paul Morales blazed the road to victory in a thrilling, high-speed bunch finish during the Go For Gold Criterium Race Series 2 on Sunday at City Di Mare in Cebu City.

The reigning national champion from Standard Insurance continental team sprinted away in the final 50 meters to beat Esteve Hora Jr. of SIP team and Go For Gold’s Marc Ryan Lago.

Morales, a two-time local Tour champion and sprint specialist, clocked 55:00.79 in the men’s elite category after racing through 35 laps at the 1.1-kilometer course with Hora, the Go For Gold Criterium Race Series 1 champion early this year, and Lago less than a second behind.

“I waited for the chance [to pull away] and I got a good chance in the end,” said Morales in Filipino at the end of the day-long series of races that aimed to bring back the animated local atmosphere in the sport.

READ: Jan Paul Morales snatches leader’s jersey

Mathilda Krogg shared the limelight by topping the women’s open in 41:04.71 (20 laps) while her Standard Insurance teammates Raven Joy Valdez and Angela Joy Marie Bermejo checked in second and third with just a fraction of a second behind.

Steven Tablizo saw a narrow path to victory in the men’s under-23 category to the frustration of SIP’s Rrking Roque and James Paul Ryan Escumbien, while John Arwin Velasco cut loose in the last three laps to show the way in a 1-2 finish for Go For Gold in the men’s junior category.

Velasco soloed it home in completing the 22km top-acceleration pursuit in 32:03.37 followed by teammate Marvin Mandac (23.14 seconds behind) and UTB’s Clent Detalla (23.20).

Mary Gweniele Francisco nosed out Vianne Angel Pagnanawon in claiming the women’s junior title after racing for 16 laps in 36 minutes and 35 seconds.

READ: Go For Gold pulls off historic win in national cycling championships

Prince Jay Elbanbuena secured the men’s youth crown in 26:45.48 after beating Clyde Deiparine of Gealon Racing Team and Juanito Gilbuela III of MACYC, while Maritanya Krog ruled the women’s side after 12 laps (28:11.64) over Maria Louisse Alejado and Yvonne Alejado.

In the manager’s category, Philip Sainz rode solo to the finish in 27:25.71 for the win with Edgar Pastor arriving second (17.80) and Ryan Sayre placing third (33.70).

“Aside from organizing safe and well-run races to elevate the sport of cycling in the Philippines, these races serve as talent identification,’’ said Go For Gold founder Jeremy Go.

Veteran cyclist Ronnel Hualda zoomed to the finish in the last few hundred meters to topple Jessie Sanchez of Keith Defiebre Cycling Team and Ramonito Espinosa to rule the men’s 40 and above category in 32:21.36.

Roy Carbonera reigned supreme in the men’s 30-39 category over 20 laps (34:46.32) with Ramonito Espinosa at second and Albert Basirgo and third places.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

The final leg of this year’s criterium series will be staged in either September or October in Mindanao.

Go For Gold Criterium Race Series 2 fires off in Cebu

On: By: admin


Caption: After the success of the Go For Gold Criterium Race Series 1 up North, more homegrown talents are expected to emerge in the Queen City of the South.

MANILA, Philippines–Cyclists from Visayas have a chance to showcase their strength at the Go For Gold Criterium Race Series 2, which is set to flag off Sunday at City Di Mare in Cebu City.

Months after the Series 1 race in Clark, Pampanga, promising cyclists from the Visayas take their turn in this maximum acceleration, one-day speed contest at Cebu’s newest criterium hub.

One of the goals of the Criterium Race Series, which is expected to draw 500 cyclists from different categories including the men’s and women’s elite and under-23 races, is to pave the way for discovery of more homegrown heroes in cycling.

READ: Hora rules Go For Gold Criterium Race Series 1 in Clark

“With Cebu being a hotbed of cycling and cycling talent, we expect that there will be a lot of spectators who will tune in to our event, ’’ said Go For Gold founder Jeremy Go.

“Aside from organizing safe and well-run races in order to elevate the sport of cycling in the Philippines, these races serve as talent identification.”

Marvin Mandac, a 17-year-old from Batangas, caught the eye of the Go For Gold Cycling Team during the Criterium Race Series 1 last Match after winning the juniors category.

Marco Lumanog from Pangasinan likewise attracted attention after figuring prominently in the men’s elite class.

READ: Go For Gold pulls off historic win in national cycling championships

“Not all cyclists will be given the opportunity, but this is one way to discover those talents. The best way to find them is to set up top-quality races where cyclists from far-flung areas can access and show off their skills,’’ said Go For Gold project director Ednalyn Hualda.

Entries from the junior (17-18 years old) and youth (15-16 years old) categories, the men’s 30-39 and 40-up divisions, as well as in the manager’s category will race in the out-and-back course at City Di Mare.

The men’s elite will race for 25 laps on the flat 1.1km course while the women’s elite is bound to complete 20 laps. The under-23 category should ride for 30 laps, the youth and junior divisions plus the men’s 30-39 and 40 up will race for 20 laps and the manager’s group will pedal for 15 laps.

Over P200,000 prize money is at stake, with the champion in both the premier men’s and women’s elite categories receiving P20,000 each.



Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.


Your subscription has been successful.

The final leg of this year’s criterium series is being penciled for either September or October in Mindanao.