The Asian track cycling championships kicked off at the Tagaytay CT Velodrome in Cavite on Wednesday (March 25, 2026). Present during the opening rites were (from left) Tagaytay City Mayor Brent Tolentino, Philippine Paralympic Committee president Michael Barredo, Philippine Sports Commission chairperson John Patrick Gregorio, Philippine Olympic Committee and PhiCycling president Abraham Tolentino, Asian Cycling Confederation president Dato Amarjit Singh Gil, Uzbekistan Cycling Federation secretary-general Khurshid Atakulov Bakhodirjanovich (partly hidden), and Saudi Cycling Federation President Abdulaziz Al-Shahrani. (PhilCycling photo)
Nearly 600 cyclists from 16 countries rolled into action on Wednesday as the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) Track and Para Track Championships officially got underway at the Tagaytay CT Velodrome in Cavite, marking a major moment for Philippine cycling.
The continental meet features a packed schedule and a huge medal haul, with 44 gold medals up for grabs in the track championships alone. Riders will battle for top honors in events such as the individual and team pursuit, sprint, keirin, elimination race, omnium, points race, scratch race, Madison, and the 1-kilometer race in both the men’s and women’s divisions.
The para track competitions add even more stakes to the tournament, with 30 gold medals on the line in events including the individual pursuit, 1,000-meter time trial, sprint, elimination, scratch race, as well as mixed team and tandem sprints.
Competing in the championships are riders from Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong-China, Indonesia, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Macao-China, Malaysia, China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and host nation Philippines.
Despite the home-court advantage, Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino tempered expectations for the local track team, saying the country remains in the early stages of building its program.
“I don’t expect any medal or podium finish here for our track cycling team. We’re starting from scratch. We’re still calibrating and adjusting. So, we will learn, little by little, and we will soon learn it,” said Tolentino, who also heads PhilCycling.
Still, Tolentino described the staging of the championships as a landmark achievement for Philippine sports.
“We finally hosted this event after 31 long years. And it is really a dream come true for Philippine sports. We are thankful to ACC and UCI for helping us,” he said.
Leading sports and government officials attended the opening ceremony, including ACC president Datu Amarjit Singh Gill, Philippine Sports Commission chairman John Patrick Gregorio, Tagaytay City Mayor Brent Tolentino, Philippine Paralympic Committee president Mike Barredo, Uzbekistan Cycling Federation secretary general Khurshid Atakulov Bakhodirjanovich, and Saudi Cycling Federation president Abdulaziz Al-Shahrani.
Also present were PSC commissioners Walter Torres and Eduardo Hayco, Vice Mayor Agnes Tolentino, and former Cavite governor Athena Tolentino, adding significance to the lively and colorful curtain-raiser before the opening races.
For Gregorio, the tournament represents more than just a championship meet. It is the realization of a long-held vision for both Tolentino and the country.
“It’s a dream come true for President Tolentino, and for the country,” Gregorio said during his remarks at the velodrome.
At the center of it all is the Tagaytay CT Velodrome, now emerging as a symbol of the country’s cycling ambitions. The world-class facility has taken the place once held by the iconic Amoranto Velodrome in Quezon City, which served Philippine cycling for decades before its demolition. Built to UCI standards, the Tagaytay track now stands as a cornerstone of the city’s growing reputation as a future “Olympic Center” for Philippine sport.