Oldies and Goldies

Unlike basketball or tennis, which I consider as a young man’s sport, cycling (or running or swimming) is a sport for all ages. The reason being that all three sports are considered concentric activities, meaning, the motions involve are repetitive and therefore, injury is less compared to eccentric exercises.

Consider Rolando "Boyax" Pagnanawon. This 1986 Marlboro Tour champion is almost in his fifties, a grandfather and recently retired from the Philippine Navy. Yet, in categorized road races in the region, I would still put my money on this "kid" over cyclists 15-20 years younger.

While Boyax's skin turgor isn't the same as two decades ago, he still exhibits a lean frame, a result of undimmed discipline that made him champion. No one can touch him in the climbs and in last weekend race to Buak, he placed second over rivals that could be considered his sons.

Another fifty-ish cyclist who is getting faster with age is Alejandro "Allan" Dungog of Lapu-lapu. A seaman by trade, he is still waiting for his medical clearance to go back to work. In the meantime, he's on a tear, winning cat C races with ease in spite of the fact that he's still using an "outdated" steel frame. Every time I see him at the races, I'd ask him, "Hey, when are you going back to work?" and he'd laugh!

Still another roadie who hit his prime at his fifth decade is another seaman, Jobert de Asis. Late last year and early this year, he was the top dog in his category. Unfortunately, he had to go back abroad to work, but I heard that he postponed his going back a few times because I guess he missed the natural high of winning.

As my college instructor used to say, "Chronologically old but biologically young!"

2ND BONGOTON TOUR THIS WEEKEND!

The race route for the 2BT is Danao-Lugo-Danao, a total of 70km. This is the same route used in the Tour ni Figer with a 4km climb in the middle. The registration fee is 50php and two flatbeds, courtesy of Engr. Raldy Vios, will take the riders to and from the race venue. The 2BT was made possible without the efforts of Ezra Arcena, a former amateur rider in the 80's who migrated Down Under and other local sponsors.

VINO IS BACK!

Cycling's prodigal son, Alexander "Vino" Vinokourov, is back after a 2-year ban from doping. He will be racing with the same team that Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador rode in the Tour de France, ASTANA. But don't expect LA and AC to ride side by side soon. In fact, I don't think that LA will ever ride under the ASTANA colors again.

But why did he choose ASTANA? Well, ASTANA is a team backed by some of the biggest companies in Kazakhstan and was created to support their golden haired boy win the TdF before he got busted. And in case you don't know yet, Vino is a Kazakh and ASTANA is the name of the capital of Kazakhstan.

KoB CLIMB TO BUAK 2009.8.23 CAT A: 1- NINO SURBAN, 2- ALBERT BASIRGO, 3-RAMSEY VILLAVER, 4- ROY CARBONERA, 5- MARJUN VILLAROSA

CAT B- 1- ORLAN TORING, 2- BOY PAGNANAWON, 3-JONAS PONSECA, 4- RAMON ESPINOSA, 5- LITO QUEBEC

CAT C: DODONG CARCUEVA, 2-PAUL PAKIT, 3- TOTO LIM, 4- CRISPIN SOLON, 5- DEDING JALUAG

REKLA CRIT RESULTS 2009.8.29 CAT C: 1- ALLAN DUNGOG, 2- CALIXTO CRUZ, 3-NANIE QUIJANO, 3- HEIDE ESMALIN, 5- RAFFY BACAYA, 6- TOY CODINA, 7- JV ARANETA. – THE FREEMAN