THREE-time Tour de France green jersey winner Robbie McEwen, considered as fastest sprinter in the world during his prime, said the Philippines is on the right track towards developing world class cyclists.
McEwen said the Sun Life Cycle PH, held yesterday at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, is a good introduction to the sport especially for children. From there it will only be a matter of proper training to train them to become world class.
“For anyone who wants to be good at any sport—it doesn’t need to be cycling, just any sport—there are certain principles. You have to start at the bottom and work your way to the top. You set that one big goal. But you don’t stay fixed on that one thing all the time. You set small goals and achieve those one at a time. It’s like climbing a ladder. You have to step on each rung to get all the way to the top. That’s exactly the way in cycling as in all sports and all facets of life,” said McEwen.
Sun Life Cycle PH is not a race but a fun ride experienced by the whole family as well as by friends and co-workers.
Close to two thousand riders —including celebrities like Piolo Pascual, Gerald Henderson, Gretchen Ho and Kisses Delavin of Pinoy Big Brother fame—assembled at 9th corner 30th streets, Bonifacio Global City at 5:30 a.m. in the morning to ride on their bicycles over city streets.
Sun Life Cycle PH is not about competition. It’s more about introducing people to the enjoyment of cycling. After that Filipino riders can look to competition here and in other regions to develop to their full potential.
“My advice for kids: just have fun. Because when it’s fun it doesn’t seem like hard work. Training doesn’t feel like training. It feels like a hobby. When you’re having fun, it seems a lot easier and you’re going make it,” said McEwen.
Philippine cycling is on the right track to grow bigger. There are already world class races here in the Philippines the Le Tour de Filipinas and the Ronda Pilipinas where the best Filipino cyclists compete.
“What’s really good for them (Filipino riders) is that even if there’s not that many races here in the Philippines there’s a lot of good races in Asia. The Philippine national team can race there. So they’re getting better and better. They’re getting more and more exposure to international competition. So it’s really raising the level. As the years go on then we will find more and more Filipino riders who can become world class,” said McEwen.
