National jr cycling team slots at stake in Batang Pinoy

MANILA – Winners in the 16-17 years age category of the Batang Pinoy road cycling competitions will get priority slots to the national junior team that will see action in the 31st Asian Junior Road Cycling Championships in Thailand next year.

At least one slot each in the national junior team for boys and girls in individual time trial (ITT) and individual road race (IRR or massed start) to the February 2025 Asian championships will be up for grabs in the grassroots games set in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan on Nov. 23 to 28.

The ITT events are set on Nov. 26 and the IRR on Nov. 27, with both events starting and finishing inside the Iwahig Penal Colony, known worldwide as the "Prison Without Walls."

Parents or guardians of participants are advised to secure passports for their athletes for the smooth processing of their registration, upon the approval of an evaluation committee created by national federation PhilCycling.

Organized annually by the Asian Cycling Confederation, the Asian Championships will include the 44th Championships for elite and Under-23 and the 13th staging of the Para Championships.

The PhilCycling plans to send a full contingent to Thailand, just like in this year's edition in Kazakhstan.

Meanwhile, Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino, also head of PhilCycling, said the 2025 National Championships for Road will be on Feb. 24 to 28, 2025 in Tagaytay City and Cavite province's Ternate and Maragondon.

The criterium and ITT will still be staged around the Tagaytay City Atrium and along the Lian-Tuy national highway in Batangas.

The criterium races will be on Feb. 24, ITT on Feb. 25, and the road races for men's junior on Feb. 26, men's Under-23 and women's elite on Feb. 27, and men's elite on Feb. 28. (PNA)