Veteran riders to challenge cycling’s young guns in ’03 Tour

The grizzled veterans of the defunct annual cycling race are ready to take on the young guns of the sport when the Tour Pilipinas 2003 presented by Air21 kicks off this summer.

Renato Dolosa and Carlo Guieb, two fabled champions from the Tour’s past history, and Rolando Pagnanawon, regarded as cycling’s ageless wonder, are happy that the race has shifted to the full Tour, where they can showcase their cycling skills and teammanship.

"Yung previous race kasi, medyo bitin. Maiksi lang kaya talagang lamang ang mga bata," said Dolosa.

"Ngayon medyo palaban na kaming beterano kasi diskarte na yung pinaguusapan dito," he added.

Dolosa was referring to the inaugural Tour of Calabarzon, which Air21 hosted as a prelude to the revival of the cycling Tour. Santi Barnachea won that race and his fellow national athletes hogged the limelight.

This year, there will be less focus on the individual category and more emphasis on teammanship as Air21 has put up a record P1-million for the top team prize.

"We want to stress teamwork this year. We want to show people what can be achieved using teamwork," said Air21 and Tour chairman Bert Lina.

The emphasis on teamwork gives veterans like Guieb, Dolosa and Pagnanawon to put their experience to work and help their team to the top.

"Maganda yung marami ka nang tinakbo noon. Alam mo yung diskarte," said Guieb.

Guieb, Dolosa and Pagnanawon have been assigned to skipper different squads, which will be drafted by the commercial sponsors in a selection event to be announced by Air21 soon.

Guieb will have Paterno Curtan, an Asian Games participant, as an assistant skipper in his squad.

Dolosa is in a team that includes Lloyd Reynante, who showed his prowess in the individual time trial of the prequalifiers, as assistant captain.

Pagnanawon will be assisted by Villamor Baluyot in the skipper’s department.