Tolentino observes Track Asia Cup ahead of Tagaytay’s Asian cycling debut

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PHILIPPINE Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino observes the competitions with Thailand Cycling Association president General Decha Hemkasri at the Suphan Buri Velodrome. [POC photo]

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino traveled to Thailand to personally observe the 2025 Track Asia Cup in Suphan Buri as part of preparations for the Philippines’ upcoming hosting of the Asian Cycling Confederation Track Championships. The major continental event is set for March 2026 at the newly built Tagaytay CT Velodrome.

Tolentino, who also heads PhilCycling, stressed the importance of the Philippines’ hosting duties. “It will be the first time in 30 years that the Philippines is hosting an Asian-level track championships and we want to make sure on its success,” he said.

Preparations for Tagaytay’s velodrome showcase

At the Track Asia Cup’s opening ceremony, Thailand Cycling Association president General Decha Hemkasri welcomed Tolentino at the Suphan Buri Velodrome, an outdoor 333-meter concrete track that has hosted multiple regional competitions. In contrast, the Tagaytay CT Velodrome is a world-class indoor facility made of wood with an International Cycling Union standard length of 250 meters, suitable for both Olympic and world championship races.

Tolentino also noted that his visit to Thailand serves as an ocular inspection for the Southeast Asian Games track cycling competitions later this year. The Tagaytay velodrome is scheduled to be the venue for the December 2025 SEA Games track events, adding further weight to its role in regional sports.

Strong competition field at Track Asia Cup 2025

The Track Asia Cup 2025 runs from Thursday to Saturday with 28 national and club teams in attendance, highlighting the event’s status as one of Asia’s premier competitions. According to Tolentino, the strong turnout provides an ideal preview of what can be expected when the Asian Cycling Confederation Track Championships come to the Philippines.

“With 28 teams, these competitions approximate the ACC championships where we expect track cyclists from 40 Asian countries to converge in Tagaytay City,” he said.

The Asian Cycling Confederation Track Championships in Tagaytay are scheduled from March 25 to 31, 2026, marking a major milestone for Philippine cycling.