POOLED REPORT FROM PSA
NAY PYI TAW – Cyclist Eusebio ‘Eboy’ Quinones did several careful takes at the 4km course he and his teammates would be negotiating Friday before flashing a brief smile.
“Mas malapad ang course ngayon,” said Quinones, at 40 the most veteran among the four PHL riders seeing action in the cross country finals at the Mount Pleasant Cycling Field here.
The breadth of the course, especially during climbs, is vital to Quinones and teammates Alvin Benosa, March Mcquinn Aleonar and Cebuano Nino Surban.
Two years ago in Indonesia, the Filipino riders and the rest got stopped by an Indonesian rider during a climb on a narrow pass, preventing them from catching up with the three leaders, two other Indonesians and a Thai who claimed all the podium slots.
“Lakad kami lahat at iyung tatlo naka-breakaway. Hindi na namin inabutan,” reminisced Quinones.
There will be no repeat of said incident this time, vowed Quinones.
For the man who has been in every SEAG team since 2003 in Vietnam, there are other factors involved. “Team tactics importante, tapos kung sino na lang ang kondisyon,” he stated.
