AFTER Davao City's cycling team's sterling performance in 2016, PhilCycling deputy secretary-general Salvador Paholio Jr. said a brighter 2017 awaits Dabawenyo riders.
Paholio, who is currently having a vacation in Sydney, Australia, said, "Happy ko especially sa performance nila Richard Handumon ug ni Myra Acedo sa Batang Pinoy (I am happy especially with the performance of Handumon and Acedo in the Batang Pinoy 2016 National Championships)."
He, however, said it would be most fulfilling for him if they surpass the 1992 Davao City's cycling team that competed in the Philippine National Games.
The team, then supervised by former councilor Nilo Abellera Sr., brought home nine gold medals.
The city clinched a total of six gold medals, five silvers and four bronzes in the Batang Pinoy 2016 held in Tagum City recently.
Training of the riders will continue as soon as he returns from his Christmas vacation.
Paholio said the city is blessed to have reputable coaches who are experts in mountain bike, BMX and road bike, adding that they volunteered to help train the promising cycling team.
"Naay tay mga coaches na nag approach sa akoa na mag tabang og train sa mga bata nga walay gi-expect nga financial in return. Pasalamat sad ko sa ila kay kung ako lang, murag dili naman nako kaya (Coaches approached me and offered to help train the kids for free. I thank them because I could not do it on my own)," Paholio said.
Focus for 2017 will be youth development in the grassroots development in line with the direction of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Paholio added.
He said that they would need help from the PSC, Sports Development Division-City Mayor's Office, cycling clubs and media.
Paholio also said they badly need bikes and equipment for the riders who could not afford to buy their own competition bikes as he appealed for the help of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio to also help the cyclists.
Paholio also hopes that the city could have its own velodrome as it would help the riders in their training.
Riders, meanwhile, may look forward to 2017 with races lined up for the ArawngDabaw, 3rd Juan Race for Peace and the KadayawansaDabaw Festival.
"Nagplano sad mi mag buhatug tour karong March kasabay sa birthday sa atong President Rodrigo Duterte (We plan to hold a bike tour in March to celebrate our President Duterte's birthday)," he added, saying it is best for the city to focus on individual sports that produce gold medals.
Only six of Davao City's nine riders were subsidized by the city government of Davao through the Sports Development Division of the City Mayor's Office during the Batang Pinoy 2016 and yet the cycling team produced the most golds for the entire Davao City delegation.
The other three riders were sponsored by Paholio and friends from the private sector.