Lim bags bronze in Asian cycling

MANILA, Philippines - Young Rustom Lim held his own against the top riders in the region as he bagged the men’s Junior bronze medal in road races in the 18th Asian Youth Cycling Championships last Thursday in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.

Lim, from Guimba, Nueva Ecija, submitted a similar clocking of three hours, one minute, 45 seconds behind gold medal winner Wong Hong of South Korea and Wong Pi Sien of Hong Kong in the competition for 18-under riders from all of Asia.

The three finished at the tip of a massed finish – with Lim missing out on a better result by a mere half-a-wheel’s length. The race took the 42-rider field around an 11.2-km circuit for a total 120 kms distance (11 laps).

Lim’s podium finish was the Philippines’ first medal in an Asian-level competition since the now-retired Victor Espiritu’s bronze in men’s elite of road race in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.

“It’s a big accomplishment, and it is proof to the fact that Philippine cycling is alive and a program is in place,” said Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.

Tolentino is the president of the PhilCycling recognized by the ACC and the UCI.

Veterans Irish Valenzuela and Tots Oledan, meanwhile, will compete in the 160 kms men’s elite road race today in the 31st Asian Cycling Championships, which runs simultaneously with the Youth Championships. The small Philippine team is accompanied by coach Cesar Lobramonte.

Lim, the Philippines’ No. 1 junior rider who topped the December PhilCycling National Open in Tagaytay, rode with the lead group for most of the way, and was very much in the fight in the sprint finish of the race that was staged on a winding circuit.