In an exciting announcement, PhilCycling has revealed that the national championships for road cycling will be held earlier in 2024, with Tagaytay City once again serving as the main hub. The event will take place from February 5 to 9, providing ample time for national coaches to prepare for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games.
To ensure a competitive and well-rounded field, qualifiers for the nationals will be based on major domestic and sanctioned races held in 2023. This approach will ensure that only the most talented and dedicated cyclists make it to the national stage.
The decision to shift the championships to an earlier date stems from PhilCycling's commitment to strengthening the national track team for both men and women. The federation is eagerly anticipating the completion of an indoor 250-meter velodrome in Tagaytay City, which will provide a state-of-the-art training facility for the country's top cyclists.
In addition to the aforementioned qualifiers, the results of the Philippine National Games (PNG) and Batang Pinoy, both of which will take place in Tagaytay City next month, will also be considered for selection. This integration of regional competitions into the national selection process ensures that a wider range of talent is identified and nurtured.
The competitions will once again feature a variety of events, including Criterium, Individual Time Trial, and Individual Road Race for men and women in Youth (under 16), Juniors (17-18), Under 23, and Elite categories. To further encourage participation and recognize top performers, the top 10 finishers in each of the events from the 2023 Nationals will be automatically seeded into the 2024 Road Championships. Additionally, the top 25 riders from the PNG-Batang Pinoy races in December will also earn a spot in the upcoming event.
To further expand the pool of potential participants, PhilCycling will award ranking points to the top 25 riders in sanctioned races held in 2023. These points will be considered for selection, with a maximum of 90 riders allowed in the Individual Road Race and 60 cyclists each in ITT and Criterium for all categories. The official list of qualifiers will be announced immediately following the PNG and Batang Pinoy events.
With this revamped selection process and an earlier schedule, PhilCycling is poised to identify and cultivate the next generation of cycling champions, ensuring that the Philippines continues to shine on the international stage.
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