Go for Gold cyclist nagningning sa Vietnam

MANILA, Philippines — Hindi nagpahuli ang mga miyembro ng Go For Gold Developmental Cycling Team sa nilahukang four-day bikathon sa Vietnam.

Hinirang si Ismael Grospe Jr. bilang King of the Mountain sa Dien Bien Phu 2019 international race, habang naging impresibo ang kampanya nina Go For Gold riders Daniel Ven Carino at Ean Cajucom sa sprint classification.

Pumangalawa naman si Jericho Jay Lucero sa hanay ng mga elite riders sa final stage sa likod ng nagharing si Vietnamese climber Huynh Thanh Tung.

“Our young guns have proven that our faith in them is well-placed,’’ wika ni Go For Gold godfather Jeremy Go.

“Despite being young athletes, they raced well against older and more experienced cyclists,’’ dagdag pa ng vice president for marketing ng Powerball Marketing and Logistics Corp. na nasa likod ng Go For Gold program.

Matapos makasama sa Top 10 ng general classification, nakamit ng 20-anyos na si Grospe, kinilalang Ronda Pilipinas best young rider, ang parehong award sa Vietnam.

“We did well in this race, but it doesn’t mean okay na. There are a lot of things to improve on and we have to do it gradually. Hindi puwedeng biglain,’’ wika ni Go For Gold project director Ednalyn Hualda.

Pumangatlo si Marc Ryan Lago sa best young rider race kasunod sina Lucero (No. 4) at Cajucom (No. 7) para tulungan ang koponan na tumapos sa fifth overall sa hanay ng 12 teams.

Bukod sa cycling, itinataguyod din ng Go For Gold si skateboarder Margielyn Didal, ang Philippine dragonboat team ng Philippine Canoe-Kayak Dra-gonboat Federation at si reigning Southeast Asian Games men’s triathlon champion Nikko Huelgas.

Sinusuportahan din ng Go For Gold si chess international master John Marvin Miciano at ang mga national athletes ng wrestling, sepak takraw, Philippine Air Force men’s volleyball squad, San Juan Knights sa Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League at ang Go For Gold-CSB team sa PBA D-League.