Tagaytay: Twelve nations have confirmed their participation in the 45th Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) Track Championships, scheduled from March 25 to 31 at the Tagaytay CT Velodrome in Cavite. "It's been three decades since the country hosted the Asian track championships - 1995 to be exact - at the then-Amoranto Velodrome in Quezon City," said Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham 'Bambol' Tolentino in a statement Thursday.
According to Philippines News Agency, with at least 12 nations confirming their attendance and more than 200 athletes competing as of today at the brand-new and International Cycling Union (UCI)-standard velodrome, the POC, PhilCycling, and Tagaytay City are preparing to host an excellent event. Tolentino, who also serves as the head of PhilCycling, emphasized the country's dedication to ensuring a successful tournament by rolling out the red carpet for participants and attendees.
Tagaytay City Mayor Aizack Brent Tolentino has assured the city's full support for the tournament, which will feature an array of events including men and women sprint, keirin, one-kilometer time trial, team sprint, individual and team pursuit, points race, scratch, omnium, Madison, and elimination race. The city aims to provide a welcoming and efficient environment for the competition.
Simultaneously with the 45th ACC Track Championships, the 14th Asian Para Track Cycling Championships will be held, featuring competitions in the one-kilometer time trial, individual pursuit, sprint, elimination, and scratch races in six events for both men and women. This dual hosting showcases the inclusivity and broad appeal of track cycling across Asia.
In addition to the host Philippines, countries such as Japan, South Korea, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Chinese-Taipei, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Iran have confirmed their participation. Japan, a dominant force in the sport, clinched 16 of the 22 gold medals available last year, with other participating nations also securing victories.
Tolentino anticipates more countries will send their teams to the championships, surpassing the 10 nations that took part in last year's edition in Nilai, Malaysia. The final deadline for registration is January 15, reflecting growing interest in the event.
The newly inaugurated Tagaytay CT Velodrome, opened last June by Tolentino and Asian Cycling Confederation head Dato' Amarjit Singh Gill, is part of only 12 velodromes in Asia. It is recognized as the newest indoor and wood facility, aspiring to become a track cycling epicenter for the Southeast Asian region. The previous Amoranto track in Quezon City was demolished last year to make way for a football pitch, marking a new era for track cycling in the Philippines.
