The Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) Track and Para Track Championships officially opened on Wednesday at the Tagaytay CT Velodrome, drawing nearly 600 cyclists from 16 nations competing for continental titles.

For the Philippine track cycling team, the event is more about experience than immediate success. Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino acknowledged that the team is “starting from scratch” and is not expected to contend for medals at this stage.

“I don’t expect any medal or podium finish here for our track cycling team,” Tolentino said. “We’re starting from scratch … we’re still calibrating and adjusting. So we will learn, little by little, and we will soon learn it.”

Tagaytay velodrome ushers in a new era

Philippine Sports Commission chairman Patrick Gregorio described the championships as a milestone for both the country and Tolentino personally. “It’s a dream come true for President Tolentino, and for the country,” he said during the lively opening ceremony.

The Tagaytay CT Velodrome, a UCI-standard facility built under Tolentino’s leadership, replaces the iconic but now-demolished Amoranto Velodrome in Quezon City. The venue is poised to become the Philippines’ central hub for Olympic-level cycling training and competitions.

Adding prestige to the occasion were ACC president Datu Amarjit Singh Gill, Tagaytay Mayor Brent Tolentino, Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barreto, and leaders from Uzbekistan and Saudi cycling federations. Local dignitaries included PSC commissioners Walter Torres and Eduardo Hayco, Tagaytay Vice Mayor Agnes Tolentino, and former Cavite governor Athena Tolentino.

Learning and growth the focus for the Philippines

Tolentino expressed gratitude to the ACC and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) for supporting the country in hosting the championships after a 31-year gap. “We finally hosted this event after 31 long years. And it is really a dream come true for Philippine sports,” he said.

While Filipino cyclists may not claim medals yet, officials emphasized the championships as a learning experience. Exposure to international competition is expected to accelerate development for the national team and lay the groundwork for future success.