Krog earns slot in national youth team

MANILA, Philippines — Go for Gold’s Rex Luis Krog earned a berth in the juniors national team following his silver medal finish in the men’s road race of the Asian Cycling Championships in Naypyidaw, Myanmar last Saturday.

Krog, a former member of the national junior pool for track cycling, regained his spot after a strong finish in the 106-km race that netted him the country’s first medal in the event since Rustom Lim’s bronze effort in 2011.

Krog, 17, clocked 2:32:49, 11 seconds behind champion Taisei Hino of Japan, and 12 seconds ahead of third-placer Wachirawit Saenkhamwong of Thailand in his first attempt in the competition.

“He has one more year in juniors so we will find competitions for him this year until he turns 19 where he could also move up to the elite level if he stays fit,” said PhilCycling road and track commission chairman Jun Lomibao in a press conference at Kabisera Restaurant in Bonifacio High Street yesterday.

Lomibao added they are eyeing a continuous two-year UCI program for Krog in Australia or preferably in Europe with focus also on track to make him a versatile rider.

“I want to return to the national team especially now that they are getting me again. That is what Sir Jeremy (Go, VP for marketing of Powerball Marketing and Logistics Corp.) and coach Eds (Hualda, Go for Gold Program director) also want,” said Krog, whose parents are former national cycling team members.

Go expressed Go for Gold’s commitment to help Krog and the other Filipino athletes, including 2017 SEA Games gold and silver medalists for triathlon, Nikko Huelgas and John Chicano, reach Olympic-level skills.

“Over a year ago, we started this project ‘Go for Gold’ to help Filipino athletes by providing funding and support with the hope of one day getting the gold medal in the Olympics and other high level events,” said Go.

“We believe in continuing development. We wanted to invest in young athletes. We don’t believe that we lack in athletic ability. In terms of equipment, we’re slowly working on that but there’s no reason we can’t reach Asian Games- or Olympic-level. But of course, it would take time,” added Go.

Krog snared the gold medal in the junior division of the Tawau Cycling Challenge in Malaysia last December.

He is also eyeing a stint in the World Championships in Austria in September and other local and international events in preparation for U-23 races next year.