Cebu Cycling’s Velo Expo 2018

In France, the bicycle is called a “velo”.

In Cebu, this Sunday, Cebu Cycling, headed by Archt. Michael Flores, will be hosting the third or fourth (Sorry, Mike!) Velo Expo at the SM Seaside. This is the second time that that this event will be held at the SM Seaside and hopefully, like last year, it will be a blast. I should know, I was one of the judges of the event.

So if you’re into the sport of cycling or just love to tinker and admire these beautiful machines, then this is a place to go. There are no admission fees.

Word warning though, cycling is highly addictive. Bring also lots of paper towels, we don’t want your drool all over and messing up the floor! Mark your calendars, Dec 16, Sunday, at the SM Seaside.

Paul Sherwin (1956-2018)

When I got into the sport of cycling, the only Tour de France we could watch was on Betamax and VHS, grainy at best. But we did we knew back then? Pixels was at least 15 years in the future. But the it wasn’t the quality of the film that made the sport mesmerizing, it was the amazing duo of Brits, Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwin, who made a bad quality film, mesmerizing!

Last week, Sherwin passed away last week, and was remembered with fond memories. While the duo’s style of broadcasting is now considered condescending (like most sports commentaries back then), it was the style that fit to a someone new to the sport. I guess commentaries back then still had that radio hangover, when the commentators simply say what the athletes are doing. You could watch TV with your eyes closed and still vividly picture how the race or game was going on. Phil and Paul was cut from that cloth.

I’ll honestly say that I have moved on with the style of Phil and Paul but without them, I know that my learning curve in the sport would be very steep.

Thank you, Paul!

Froome vs Thomas for the Yellow Jersey this July?

When an unstoppable force meets an immovable object, then it sure is a recipe for disaster, or maybe domination through re-alignment. Back in August,  Chris Froome, the four time Tour winner had said that the ultimate goal is the Tour. Two days ago, Geraint Thomas, the current champion, said that he will be targeting the Tour in 2019.

What gives?

While a team with two leaders usually ends up in a disaster, team SKY was able to convince both teammates to work for a team goal. Maybe Froome was willing to bow to Thomas since at that time, he just recently won one of the most dramatic Giro d’Italia’s and had been a green light to race again after a PED use investigation. Maybe he was simply too tired to face the scrutiny of he fought it out with Thomas.

But 2019 is a different story, and how Dave Brailsford and the team SKY management can handle the huge egos of both champions will be an interesting telenovela to follow.