Aguja rides high in UCI rankings

MANILA, Philippines — Filipino rider John Andre Aguja is making a historic ride to glory, zooming to 11th in the world men’s junior mountain bike rankings of the UCI, or the International Cycling Federation.

The prodigious teenager from Iriga City amassed 222 points after a string of victories in Coupe de Japon MTB in Yawatahama, Japan, Siol MTB Challenge in Korea, Thailand MTB Cup 1 and the Philippine National MTB Xco Championships in Danao City, Cebu.

These feats made him the highest-ranked Asian in the list with Japanese Yuta Ochino coming in as the second best at 40th.

And Go for Gold, which has fuelled Aguja’s magnificent ascent, is aiming to send its ward to bigger, stronger races abroad.

“Was I surprised with the latest ranking? No. John Andre was just special since the first time we saw him. We knew he’d go places,” said Go for Gold founder Jeremy Go, whose group has also supported chess, basketball, volleyball, sepak takraw, triathlon, duathlon and aquathlon among others.

“We’re still not happy, we still want more for John Andre and we believe that with his talent, skill set, obedience, humility and perseverance, mas marami pang mararating ang bata.”