Ronald Oranza (PNA file photo)
Veteran cyclists Ronald Oranza and Jermyn Prado are set to lead the ceremonial inauguration of the Tagaytay City Velodrome on June 23, marking a significant milestone in Philippine cycling.
The two international medalists will ride around the 250-meter indoor track—built to International Cycling Union (UCI) standards—carrying the flags of both the Philippines and PhilCycling. Their lap will be the highlight of a ceremony that coincides with the city’s 87th Charter Day as well as the joint celebration of Olympic Day and World Bicycle Day.
“This officially signals the opening of the Tagaytay City Velodrome—the first and only UCI-standard facility of its kind in the country,” announced Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and PhilCycling president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino in a press statement on Thursday.
Tagaytay City has become a hub for action sports, boasting world-class facilities not just for track cycling but also BMX racing, freestyle biking, skateboarding, and various combat sports.
Originally, the velodrome’s unveiling was supposed to follow the Baguio City-Tagaytay City PhilCycling Classic, a 292-kilometer endurance race featuring top finishers from the recent Tour of Luzon. However, the race has been rescheduled to November 11 due to unfavorable weather and roadworks along major expressways. The rerouting is being coordinated with Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. and San Miguel Corp., operators of TPLEX, Skyway, and SLEX, which had already expressed support for the event.
Tolentino emphasized that the Classic will serve as a key send-off event and pep rally for Team Philippines ahead of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand this December.
“We are ushering in a renaissance for Philippine cycling, particularly in track events. The return of our cyclists to the velodrome at the SEA Games is a major part of that,” he added, noting the country’s entries in both the men’s and women’s omnium events.
Also on June 23, the POC will facilitate the signing of contracts for two major Olympic development programs. Nine athletes will receive training scholarships under the Olympic Solidarity Program for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, while 12 more will benefit from the Support Grant for Continental Athletes.
The last time the Philippines struck gold in track cycling was in the 2007 SEA Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, with Victor Espiritu winning the points race and Alfie Catalan taking the individual pursuit title. The new velodrome in Tagaytay could pave the way for more victories on the international stage.