1989, part I

In 1989, a group called the United Cyclist of the Philippines boldly organized a bike race around the heart of the city. I say "bold" because they were able to convince Mayor Tomas Osmena to shut down the uptown traffic and invite a group of European amateurs and a pro.

Noli Bautista, Jun Farrarons, Cenon Tan and Claudio Baclaan spearheaded the UCP. But it was Bautista who met and then coordinated with Axel Gatterman, the Europeans' manager, to make the "1st International Cycling Competition" a success.

Gattermann is a German pharmacist and a non-medical practitioner who had treated famous cyclists like Hennie Kuiper ('72 Olympics RR winner, '75 World Champion, winner of '83 Paris-Roubaix and currently a team director of Discovery Channel) and Jean Paul van Poppel (winner of 8 TdF stages and green jersey, 87' TdF).

Among the European cyclists was Frank Kersten, a Dutch pro who rode for PDM at that time. Kersten had won the prologue in the Tour of Venezuela and a stage in the early season French race, "Etoille de Besseges". If you didn't know your cycling history, team PDM was the US Postal Service of it's time and the best team in the world from 1986-1992 that didn't win the TdF. Pedro Delgado, Greg LeMond, Sean Kelly, Van Poppel, Erik Breukink, Gert Jan Thenuisse, Raul Alcala, and Stephen Rooks, superstars all, rode one time or another for PDM (Delgado won the 88 TdF while LeMond won his 3 TdF's all with different teams).

In '89, a European made bike was unheard of in Cebu. The local cyclists were using custom frames made in Manila or from Farraron's ASP CycleHaus. Kersten was using the team-issue frame, "Concorde", spec'd with Campagnolo's top of the line Record and delta brakes. It was jaw dropping; it was like watching Jimi Hendrix's guitar!

The local cycling heroes at that time were probably the best generation of cyclists that Cebu ever had. Enoy Delica (probably the best RP trackster ever), Dondon Romales (1984 Tour ng Pilipinas runner up), Boy Pagnanawon (1986 Tour ng Pilipinas Champion) and a host of veteran pros and amateurs led by Magno Bertulfo, Ricky Ermitanio, Moises Pongasi, Ronald Navarro, and Greg Gabato. And since there was only one category to be raced, everybody who had a road bike joined! I knew I was wet behind the ears, but I was not going to miss the event, no way!

It probably was the first and the last time that a race was held in a closed major thoroughfare. The start/finish area was adjacent the CAP building Along Jones Avenue. The route went up towards Fuente Osmena were we followed the circle and then to F. Ramos after a short ride on Mango Avenue. This downhill on F. Ramos was followed by a dangerous and scary, sharp right-hand corner to Arlington Pond where we exited back to Jones. At that time, there was this big traffic island on the junction between P. Del Rosario and Jones and we made a U-turn going to the finish line.

The race was 15 laps and it started fast!!! Going through Fuente, I was already at the tailend of the peloton. That triangular traffic island in front of Robinson's was still to be built as we whizzed by. As we turned towards Arlington Pond with those hollow block sized sidewalks wall, I almost lost it! Luckily, I made it alive and was barely hanging on. Along Philippine Normal College, I decided that this was it, I was going to stop. My lungs were seared and my legs were getting branded. Near the Abellana School grounds, I stopped. The crowd was 5 deep and I was relieved that nobody I knew saw me quit. As I was catching my breath, I heard a voice among the crowd that said, "Hey Doc, what's the problem? Laspag?" It turned out to be a student of mine from Iligan, Pericles Piansay, who was also into road racing during school breaks.

To be continued next week.