Prelude. Our 1984 Olympian Deogracias Asuncion is definitely not done yet!

Our 2014 State Champ, World Cup Veteran and 1984 Olympian in the sport of Cycling, Deogracias Asuncion is definitely not done yet! He's coming back for more with a vengeance from his 2007 UCI Track World Cup that was held in Los Angeles' Velodrome. Formerly ADT Event Center during that time and now called Velo Sports Center which is the closest spec's as Manchester's Velodrome. And after earning his Southern California Nevada Cycling Association (SCNCA) State Championships three months ago. Now he is once again prepared and peaking to race his hardest at the upcoming UCI Masters Track Championships that will be held in Manchester, England this coming October 4-11, 2014. Please wish him luck for another great experience. Here's the man just arriving at Velo Sports Center for his last Friday night of hard training.

First of all, we also would like to thank Manny Ibay, President of the National Masters and Seniors Athletic Association (NMSAA) of the Philippines for serving as his inspiration. I'm about 110% sure that Deo's efforts are dedicated to you and to serve as an inspiration to the others.

We would like to thank all friends and families who contributed and sponsored to make his quest for another World level competition possible and for supporting us in our efforts. To start, we would love to thank Deo's daughter Diana Frey for her efforts in acquiring financial help and setting an online fund raiser at www.gofundme.com.Thank you to those who submitted their donations already. For those who are planning to, please continue your support as you wish as I'm not doubting that he has paid a good portion for the expense from his own savings. I'm sure that he will appreciate all the help he can receive. Can you believe Diana and Deo were able the get Manny Pacquiao's approval for financial help from his visit a few weeks ago! But unfortunately, his staff was not able to work Manny's approval. Just to let you in, that was the last deciding factor if Deo was going to represent the Philippines.

Special thanks as always to my mentor, 2012 Olympic Coach/Manager of Trinidad Tobago Peter Maharaj for giving those important tips for this whole travel. Thank you to our many friends who helped out. We also appreciate the fund raising effort made by Integrity Riderz Cycling Club during their recent club race. Roger Young's sessions added strength, stamina, and confidence. Thank you to all our peers on and off the track who's been encouraging Deo during these months of training nights. Very special thanks to Maggie Ethridge-Unero, Ron and Ada Garland, Chris Cruz, Tammy Aquino, Ryan and Brendon Dalrymple, Ashley Long, Christene Le, Kevin Cho, Jennifer Velasquez, Debbie Carroll, Army Luong, Joyce Guzman, Pat and Gloria Frey, Madonna Sikat, 4 anonymous donators, and most of all Deo's family Diana, Eugene, and Alvin.

Thank you also to Louie Rivera (left) and Former Philippine National Cycling Team Al Villamil (right) for their tremendous assistance during this preparation.

We also would like to thank PhilCycling President Abraham Tolentino and Executive Director Jojo Villa for accommodating our request. PhilCycling Coach Christopher Allison is also aware of this endeavor. All of these help was to race for the Philippines as we already registered for the event. Unfortunately and to make it very brief, we had to change his registration using his USA Cycling International License and race for his local cycling club: South Bay Wheelmen. Fortunately, their elite and masters are experienced and competes at UCI level races including World Cups.

Here's his tentative race schedule:

Day 1: October 4, 2014 Saturday - afternoon session only 2:00 pm - 7:45 pm

• 30-lap Scratch Race
• Event 2 - Heats
• Event 13 - Finals

Day 2: October 5, 2014 Sunday

• 500 meter Individual Time Trial
• morning session 9:40 am - 2:45 pm
• Event 17 - Heats and Event 32 - Finals - evening Session 4:30 pm - 9:30 pm

Day 5: October 8, 2014 Wednesday

• 60-lap Points Race (points every 10 laps)
• Event 8 or Event 10 - Heats - morning session 9:00 am - 1:15 pm
• Event 46 - Finals - evening Session 6:00 pm - 10:30 pm

Day 7: October 10, 2014 Friday

• Team Sprints (45-54 age group) with Robert Cormin of NorCal, Alphonso Whaley of Texas. Team Texie Cali USA
• Event 15 - Heats - morning session 9:00 am - 1:30 pm
• Event 23 - Finals - evening session 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Let's make sure that he qualifies for the Finals first, then let's go for the GOLD! That's 6 or more races to plan ahead!

Lastly, I am very thankful that Deo trusted me to train, mentor, and manage during this preparation and will continue with my responsibilities throughout the travel, throughout the duration of the event, and hopefully in future races. He basically entrusted his quest on my expertise! I'll be definitely be there for him 110% to include barking from the apron during his races. I myself is going for the win!

So this is it! It's very official, Pinoy Fixie is going to Manchester, England for the Masters Track World Championships! Let's put that in our cycling resume! What I've been learning in this cycling world is to keep working that love of the sport while helping alike conquer that same dream. I tell you, it's difficult and arduous but it's very much doable and it's rewarding afterwards.

Next on the agenda, I'm already thinking of the upcoming UCI/USAC Masters National Record Breaking event this coming 30th of October at Velo Sports Center. Let's get the Champ in the record books!

Coach/Manager Arden Arindaeng