UCI Master's Worlds Track Championships

It was the first time Velo Sports Center in Los Angeles, California hosted UCI Master's Track Cycling Championships this past October and champions were truly crowned! It was amazing to witness National and World Records set to higher standards. New personal bests were set once again. We had Filipinos who prepared for this penultimate event of Master's Worlds track cycling taking the chance to prove to the world that they can race and be competitive in their respective age groups.

I couldn't tell how many participants showed up the very first session... Possibly about 400 is my guess from 31 different countries. Here's a glimpse of that night in the infield. There were a lot of them racers! I really mean a LOT... Not even a space to roll around before the race!

To start recognizing our cycling friends, here's Ms. Christina 'Rico' Ricafort, Race # 52, 55+ age group, earning Bronze Medal on the 2-kilometer Team Pursuit. She is standing on the left on the 3rd place podium. A UST graduate and if you remember, she beautifully sang the Philippine National Anthem during Arland Macasieb's Philippine-Hour Record setting event a few years ago.

With her outstanding accomplishment, she wanted to thank Coach Roger Young, her teammates Lan Tran, and Sue Meinerz, including friends who supported and inspired her to race this big event. She is so inspired to train more and participate in more events for 2018 Worlds. She also worked as a volunteer taking videos of the event.

Next we have Ryan Resella. Race # 825, 35-39 age group

Just to give everyone a background about Ryan, he began racing a few local criteriums in 2015 and joined South Bay Wheelmen last year where this club encourages and works on track certifications. This club has encouraged its members to participate in riding and racing at the velodrome especially that Masters Worlds was going to be held locally for the next 2 years. So this was the first time he started riding at the velodrome and followed through with local time trials and sprint racing. He quickly became a State Champion later in the year. He continued on with many of the Time Trials, Sprint events and Omnium races earlier this year and set his personal best on the 4-kilometer ITT at 5 minutes and 37 seconds. He became a State Champion again on the ITT and Points Race.

At this past Master's Worlds, he raced the 3-Kilometer Individual Pursuit and finished 11th place setting a new personal best at 4 minutes and 3.854 seconds. 

He would like to thank his coach and Pro Criterium Specialist Rashaan Bahati (pictured above) and all the support from his club. He plans to race Master's Worlds next year as well.



Next we have an accomplished long distance rider and a now a Master's State track competitor William Aligue aka Cyclista FilAm Race # 601, 45-49 age group.

Here he is at the start line of his 750-meter Individual Time Trial and finishing 34th with a time of 57.250 seconds. I believe that's Wilson behind him working the starting gate.

Tony Zaldua Jr. Race # 585, 50-54 age group. If you remember, Tony was Arland's bike whisperer prior to that Philippine Hour setting event.

He finished 29th out of 45 participants in the 500-meter Time Trial. Finishing with a time of 37.738 seconds just about a second off for the win. As you can tell that the results were very closed to each other! They are all relentlessly fast!

He came back 2 days later and qualified earlier in the day to race the 7.5-Kilometer Scratch Race Finals. I was happy for him surviving the race avoiding a crash just ahead of him and placed a respectable 12th place on this sketchy and fast Scratch Race Finals.

Photo by Steve Cohen


Our 1984 Olympian Deogracias Asuncion, Race # 350, 60-64 age group, 2014 Masters Worlds participant in Manchester, England and SCNCA Multiple State Track Champion through the past few years. Here he is at the start of his 5-kilometer Points Race.

Photo by Al Villamil

He finished 9th place out of 24 racers after an unexpected ugly race and a yelling match with 8-laps left where a 2-rider crash happened with break-away pairs all over the track. They had to restart once the officials sorted things out and it was an all-out "8-lap" sprint by this man to surprise us with a respectable 9th place finish. Not bad for a full field of racers! He would like to give special thanks to Joel Javier for his registration fees and tubular tires.


Nearing the last days of the event, Tony, Deo, and Joseph Santacruz teamed up called "Los Tres Amigos" to compete and qualify at the 45-54 age group Team Sprint event. As you noticed, Deo had to age down for this race. They finished a respectable 15th place.

Last but not least, Wilson Blas, the founder of  FilAm Criterium Grand Prix, former Philippine National Team cyclist and State track champion as well, helping out William get through his event. He also volunteered on multiple sessions to manage the starting gates during the time trial events.

Photo by Vance McDonald

Thank you all especially to Louie Rivera, Arnold Irving, and Milton Lanier for their support.

Check out these links from Masters Worlds LA for details of the results and UCI's 737 page Official Book of the event. Here's USA Cycling's post of the 132 total medals they have earned.

We'll do our best to be back next year! I know there are more folks out there who wants to race this pinnacle event of master's track racing. As you can see, Wilson and I missed out on training and preparation for this event. Hopefully we all can prepare and make a comeback next year and strive for those medals and the World Champion's Jersey!

Who is Steve Pelaez and why he needs your help.

On April 21st, Steve was doing what he loves best, biking, then suddenly his life was in danger. He slammed into a car at a very high speed and unresponsive after the accident. He has suffered significant trauma to his brain. He fractured his neck, back and shoulder. He punctured both of his lungs, suffered a bleeding liver laceration and now has a blood clot in his leg. He is currently at Stanford Hospital in a coma that doctors expect him to come out of in weeks to months.

The financial burden of this tragedy is just one of the many challenges facing the Pelaez family. Fortunately, it is one that we can come together as a community and attempt to lessen the pain. Many people have reached out with offers to contribute so this site has been set up as a response to the generous outpouring of support that is surrounding Steve and his family. Any and all donations are greatly appreciated, as it will allow the family to focus their energies on healing Steve

For updates on his condition, please check in with his Caring Bridge site. www.caringbridge.org/visit/stevepelaez

Help spread the word!

(Copied from https://www.gofundme.com/steve-pelaez-medical-fund)

---

As many of you know our friend Steve Pelaez was involved in a serious cycling accident on April 21, 2017. He's still fighting for his life in the Stanford ICU. Now, more than ever, he and his family need our support.

The accident has had a much bigger impact on me than I would have anticipated. I realize it's because of our close friendship, and he, like me has a family with young kids....I could have easily been him that morning. Life is so precious and these things can happen so quickly. We live in a time and society where it's easy to become distracted, decreasing our chances of getting to our destination safely. The accident drove home to me the importance of always being present, focused and obeying the rules of the road, whether when riding a bike or driving a car.

I thought to myself, 'is there anything I can do in honor of Steve, his amazing wife Jenna Miller Pelaez and their kids, that will keep these important factors at the forefront of my mind? Something that can bring all of Steve's friends' love and energy together to support them?'. The result is the symbol/photo of this post.

With the help of my friend (and graphic designer), Peter Smith, I had 1000 of these symbols produced as a 1.25'x1.25' sticker. I call it the 'Super Steve sticker'. The yellow sun, three stars and color scheme are from the Philippines flag, his home country. The sun symbolizes unity and freedom...very relevant to what Steve and his family need now, but also what cycling means to him and the surrounding community. The three stars surrounding the 'S' represent his wife and two kids, as they are closest to him. The 'S' is for Steve (of course), safety, support, and spirit, and is a play on the Superman logo. It's to represent not only the superpowers of the Steve we know and love, but also all of the superhero powers those surrounding him, and those who don't know him, have the ability to possess. We can all make a difference.

The rays of light from the sun are meant to connect all of us. My hope is that the sticker is placed somewhere as a reminder to always be present, focused and safe. (I put one on the top tube of my bike and the center console of my car.) The more stickers out there, the stronger our support and awareness.

Some questions you may want to ask:

1. How do you get a sticker(s)?

2. How is Steve and his family doing?

3. Is there anything else I can do?

Answers:

1. I'm planning to drop them off at some local businesses in Marin this afternoon and tomorrow morning. I want to make sure they are there before I announce the locations. Keep an eye on this post, or simply make a quick comment like 'following' or 'I am a superhero' and you will be alerted when I post a comment tomorrow that includes the locations.

2. Visit their CaringBridge site for the most recent updates: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/stevepelaez

3. Share this post on your timeline if you feel appropriate to make others aware. Additionally, it's obvious the medical bills and other financial requirements of this accident are going to be hefty. Any contribution you can afford will be greatly appreciated via their GoFundMe page: https://www.gofundme.com/steve-pelaez-medical-fund

Are you a superhero? I believe and know 100% you have the power to be one. It's a choice...will you join me? #iamaStevesuperhero #iamasuperhero

Dana Williams

https://www.facebook.com/DanaWilliams26/posts/10158650209135285

---

Some of you knows him, some might be not, Steve Pelaez is a true Pinoy Power who still fighting for his life, he got into accident while riding his bike. Please help in any amount if you can and include him in your prayer.

Thanks.

Mimi Rozel Tupaz

---

So who is Steve Pelaez? I believe there's a few of you who still remembers this man. He raced for the Philippines in the late 2000 during the Southeast Asian Games and probably the Asian Games also. He also raced on a few occasions at UCI Elite Track World Cup events. The photo below shows him with Philippine Superstar Victor Espiritu being awarded Certificates of Appreciation from Adobo Velo Fil-Am Cycling Club President Jesse Santamaria after all the racing both did at 2008 UCI Elite Track World Cup. Steve also raced on another UCI Elite Track World Cup event in Copenhagen, Denmark a few months after.

Besides racing for the Philippines, he also had numerous local rides and races in Northern California, sharing some unfortunate crashes and injuries but this previous one is just too much to bear. He is known also at Hellyer Velodrome in San Jose, California for his track racing strengths and tactics. He also raced Northern California Nevada Cycling Association (NCNCA) State Championships and also United States Cycling Association's (USAC) Elite National events. Here he is with Pinoy Pride Wilson Blas during one of the track events in Los Angeles.

Here's one of the collections he wanted for my keepsake after he earned this bronze medal from the finals of the Scratch Race of 2011 Elite Track National Championships, held at Los Angeles' Velodrome now called Velo Sports Center.

I think it's time to return the favor for his contributions to California Cycling and especially to Philippine Cycling and help him and his family as much as we could. Yes, that's him, our profile pic at Pinoy Fixie's Facebook Group and Page.

Hopefully this helped us get to know him better and why he and his family needs your help now. You can check Jenna's post in Facebook for more details of the accident.

Dana mailed me 25 Super Steve stickers for distribution. Please ask me for one if you get a chance. You know where to find me and message if needed. Proudly display this sticker on your bike, your helmet, or where ever you can show it. If you're not close by, we can make arrangements with Dana to request more stickers and have it mailed it out to someone who can be in charge of distributing them. Just let me know.

Maraming salamat.

Arden Arindaeng

Coryn Rivera's Untold Story

I think there’s only one way to start her story and it is with her unbelievable back-to-back win at one of the most difficult but greatest classic race there is, the headwind sprint to the line at the tough Tour de Flanders (aka Ronde Van Vlaanderen) last 2nd of April 2017 and an inclined sprint to win Trofeo Alfredo Binda the weekend prior! This was also the same race of the Men’s Elite Division where we saw Peter Sagan getting caught by a spectator’s jacket and eventually tripping on the barrier stand and taking down Van Avermaet and Oliver Naesen behind him and with a solo breakaway by Philippe Gilbert for the victory. This great race showcased 12 climbs and a lot of unforgiving cobblestones. There were lesser than a hundred women’s elite finishers and another third of the field didn’t finish. This just tells us all how difficult this race is and she has overcome and prevailed to be the first Filipina-American to win this race resulting to the highest ranking of UCI’s Women’s World Tour and placing 19th in UCI’s Women Elite at this moment. Here’s her Instagram photo captioned, “OMG, I just won Flanders! If you missed her post-Flanders Victory Facebook Live Q&A, you can still view it at Coryn Rivera Racing. Her father and her boyfriend who just traveled from Southern California witness her victory. Here are a couple of additional links posted at the same time by USA Cycling, VeloNews, and Cycling News.

Let’s not forget her previous results with her electrifying win the week prior at WWT’s 3rd race, Trofeo Alfredo Binda in Italy with this sprint from the center! More likely, the first American to win this race too!

Here’s that great photo that instantly scattered around the web from her first win with Sunweb last March 19th. On another photo Coryn posted in Instagram, she added this caption after her win…  “Am I dreaming? Or did this actually happen today? Not just my first World Tour victory ever, but also Team Sunweb's first World Tour win of the season! No words can describe this feeling. But I wouldn't even have come close if it wasn't for my teammates!!!” You can listen to her interview at Warren Cycling Podcast by Dean Warren after her first win at this year's UCI Women's World Tour: warrencyclingpodcast.libsyn.com

With her addition to Team Sunweb, an European based cycling team, they immediately earned top results competing in this year’s World Tour road races with more than 100 kilometers and roughly more than a 100 competitors at each stage throughout this year. She was not shy to mention that included a 25th place finish at Omloop van het Hageland in Belgium due to an unfortunate minor crash early in the race. This happened when she was in the main break of the day and was swallowed up on the last lap. She didn’t score at first on this race hence a DNF since she was on her spare bike without a timing chip. Her result was eventually corrected to 15th place. And then a strong 3rd place finish Gent-Wevelgem in Flanders Fields in Belgium with just her 5th race with the team immediately noticed by her local cycling and Filipino Cycling Clubs worldwide and the cycling world in the Philippines.

Now let’s go back September 2016, she gave me the permission to write a story about her after her travel to Europe. She spent some time at riding at Velo Sports Center and donating here outgrown jerseys to the young beginners at Connie’s Cycling Classes. She was also preparing to race at UCI’s 134-kilometer 89th Road World Championships in Qatar where she finished a very respectable 16th place out of more than a 100 participants.

Qatar’s sizzling hot weather was creating havoc during the event and races were planned to be shortened. This was not a problem for Coryn since she grew up cycling in Los Angeles’ desert temps.

Here’s a pic together Crit Master Justin Williams at the center, Olympian Deogracias Asuncion at Coryn's right, and friends after hard intervals at Roger’s Sessions at Velo Sports Center.

She mentioned that she was moving to a new team and was too early to give any details. Moving early 2017, the deal was sealed for her to join Team Sunweb. The most notable teammate is Tom Dumoulin from Netherlands who have won stages in all three Grand Tours, Australian Michael Matthews with stage wins in the Vuelta d’Espana, Giro d’Italia, earned silver medal at UCI’s 2015 World Championships in Richmond USA. The women’s team was that strong as the men’s team with major results since 2011.

Most of us knew how she came about in the cycling world from accomplishing century rides at a very young age with her family, winning easily in local track events, criteriums, and road races, and even in cyclocross events during her elementary years through middle and high schools. 

If anyone remembers, she also raced during the UCI World Cup last 2008 together with Philippine Team athletes Victor Espiritu and Steve Pelaez in Los Angeles. Here's Victor and Steve at the center being awarded Certificates of Appreciation from Adobo Velo Fil-Am Cycling Club President Jesse Santamaria.

Later that afternoon, she was interview together with his father Wally by Manny Legaspi of Adobo Nation during her break:

This includes racing at Junior World Championships in Russia in 2009 and two Bronze Medals competing at 2010 Road Race and Omnium in Italy. Here are some of her pics from her early racing days through her collegiate racing:

The photo above is one of her Category 3 win from a local racing for South Bay Wheelmen Cycling Club in 2007 and below from La Grange in 2008 at Velo Sports Center with races already accomplished since 2004.

Later winning as a local Professional racer or ProMan Hit Squad in 2009.

Then later with more wins for Peanut Butter and Co. Twenty12 in 2010 in road and cyclocross races.

And later in life pursuing her college degree while racing for Marian University and also fitting in professional racing in 2010 for Proman Hit Squad which later morphed to Peanut Butter & Company Twenty12, Exergy TWENTY12 and Breast Cancer Care Cycling, and United Health Care in 2014 traveling around the United States and the World. All these times from her junior years to who knows how far in the future representing Team USA at UCI World Cup and Championships events. During those times, she accumulated 71 National Championship Titles on all 4 cycling disciplines.

We know her as a top racer from her beginnings and still has that undeniably fast sprint courtesy of her local track coach Tim Roach, Major Motion Team Director David Pulliam, her teammates like Justin Williams, and definitely her family behind her all the time. We’re pretty sure there’s hard work that we can all relate to, but what really are those? How did she manage all these stresses from her young age and throughout the years? Would it be interesting how she got to this high point of her racing career?! Here’s a few questions I was able ask:

Hi Coryn! During your college years, how did you manage school work, collegiate racing, travel to races, and time away from home? What were the things that you missed most during those times?

     [Coryn] Hard work and time management is what got me through college. Sure I was away from home in sunny southern California, but I had a huge opportunity before me. It wasn’t always sunny and warm during my time in Indianapolis, but I was committed, so I worked hard and made the most of every opportunity. One semester I took 21 credit hours. I completed 3 different internships. My team finished 3rd in a business competition. I finished her studies with a Bachelors in Business Marketing in 2015 with a concentration in Entrepreneurship and walked at the graduation ceremony on May 2016.

Her cycling successes continued on through her collegiate races winning more championships and professional races.

     [Coryn] Continued: All the while racing collegiate races and professional and national team races. There was some coordinating that needed to happen to make it all work, but if you want it enough you will always figure out a way. I won professional Criterium Nationals in 2014 when I was a sophomore. I won my first European stage win after finishing my Junior year of college. I qualified for the 2015 UCI World Championships USA national team while I was in my finishing my last semester as senior. In fact I was actually finishing an online exam the night before the championship race. 

     Surely I missed the warm California in the winter and being close to my family, but luckily I had a sister that lives in the suburbs of Indianapolis and I would always visit her and see my nieces and nephew. And really experiencing the 4 seasons made me grateful for what I had at home. I survived it and at times it was nice, especially the fall, but when I have the choice, I will choose California above all!

And it is my observation in the past couple of years that a few SoCal junior racers perhaps was influenced by  Coryn’s footsteps in pursuing a college degree at Marian University (moving on to Marian University or other Universities) with some level of scholarship and continuing on with her racing career. I think her University now has a solid and larger collegiate cycling team while others Universities are also at that same competitive level.

Besides your junior races abroad, when was your first elite/pro race outside of USA? When was the first time you traveled without your parents or close relative? How was that experience?

     [Coryn] I suppose my first elite/pro race outside of the states was when I was 18. When you’re 18 and still a junior you are able to jump into pro races, so I did a couple trips with the National Team after the Classics and into the summer to prepare for Junior Worlds where I got a Bronze medal in the road race and the track omnium. I had started traveling on my own from a young age. From what I can remember one of my first trips solo was to the US Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs when I was about 13 or 14. I think my parents were a little nervous, but I wasn’t! I had always been independent and marching to the beat of my own drum since I was a kid, so I wasn’t scared or nervous.

What where the things you enjoyed while traveling and racing in and out of the country? You can let me know any comparisons.

     [Coryn] Traveling and racing outside of the states is a lot more aggressive and a bit more chaotic, but that is more my style. I thrive off of that chaos and I find it fun. The depth of racing is much higher in Europe where say the top 20 riders are all in contention where in the states it’s more like the top 5 riders are the one who could actually win the race. 

What are the most difficult times and experiences while travelling? Something that you dredge every time. You can share any stresses you had during race seasons. Did you develop habits to make life easier during your travels?

     [Coryn] I guess when your bags don’t make it after a connection or if your flight gets cancelled makes traveling more difficult, but even if that happens, the bags eventually get to the destination and you get rebooked on the next flight. So I’m not really one to stress during travel because sometimes there is nothing you can do but it eventually gets sorted. One went to the airport a day too early. I tried to check in and for some reason it wasn’t letting me. I asked for help from one of the employees and I realized I was there a day too early. Of course my dad had already dropped me off and left and unfortunately he also happened to leave his cell phone at home. So it was a long wait at the airport for him to come back and get me, only to bring me back the next day. Luckily it wasn’t a day too late! While traveling I do have a bit of a routine. I set my watch to whatever the local time will be at the destination and try to match when I have to sleep and when I have to be awake. Luckily I am a good sleeper and I typically do well with jet lag. Then I always throw on compression socks an hour before landing to help with inflammation and recirculating the blood that settled in my lower extremities from the flight.

What’s your secret every race season on keeping a positive outlook and high determination?

     [Coryn] What is a secret if I tell you? :) I think this comes down to goals. If you have goals and you have the means and reasons to achieve them, it makes it natural and easy to always be positive and be determined to accomplish it. 

I knew this will be candid reply! Challenging goals and achieving them are surely important. You make me wonder now, what are your new goals especially racing for a new team? For this season, next year, and while with the team? And going back to your UHC history, what was the biggest goal and have you reached it? Where there any life lessons that came about?

     [Coryn] Long term goals is still to focus on World Championships and 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Short term for the year are targeting the one-day races that suit me like Binda and Amstel-Gold. And aside from results, goals for the year is really learning and soaking up the euro racing culture. My biggest goal with UHC was to make it to the Rio Olympics. We had a short shot, but we went for it and got pretty close, but in the end didn’t get it. I’m happy I gave it a shot and I think we had a slim but good chance to make it happen, but sometimes the stars aren’t always in line for you. Life lessons from that experience is to have a good attainable goal, always try your best, and in the end accept the outcome because you can only control so much of what happens. At the end of the day it doesn’t make or break who I am, but I am happy with the way my journey went to try to achieve that goal.

I also asked her how she communicates being a visitor to the European countries knowing that there’s different languages used there: 

     [Coryn] For the language, I’ve learned a little bit of everything over the years, so I can at least understand some of the stuff that matters.

Did you have any role models that you looked up to from your college years and professional racing? If so, you can mention their name/s? And why?

     [Coryn] Not really. I’m not one to idolize anyone. I like to be my own person and I don’t want to be like someone else. 

Did you have any inspirations that made your life easier during those years? If so, you can mention their name/s?  And why?

     [Coryn] My parents are my real role models. They work hard for everything and we always do everything as a family. I am strong because they are. I owe it to them for raising me to what I am today. 

Thank you for your time in sharing your career insights. Personally, I hope your story will instill confidence not only to young aspirants and their parents as well. And the creation of goals can be of any magnitude at any given time frame.

Coryn’s 6th place finish at the first ever La Course in Paris coinciding with last stage of 2014 Tour de France’s. On top of her very respectable finish, she was also awarded the prestigious Best Young Rider of the event. Copied from UHC Pro Cycling Team’s website. In addition, she was also awarded North America’s Best Female Sprinter by Velo News.
Fast forward to the present, with a whole lot of World Tour races till September. This includes Tour of California’s Women’s Race called Amgen’s Breakaway Women’s Race where she finished 2nd on Stage 3 and 4th on Stage 4 with a 4th place overall Sprint finish last year, and once again, Tour de France’s La Course this coming July.

Here’s a photo of her win from last year’s inaugural Women’s World Tour first stage in Argentina giving her the chance for selection to the upcoming 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. As you can see, this is her second World Tour participation with victories written all over her cycling resume already.

Let’s wish her all the luck and show our support especially with the impressive early season with her new Team. Get her autograph when you can! I bet she made a pretty good impression to the Team Staff! She’s a keeper!

As you can see, she’s been with the cycling world for the longest time already and still making waves as time goes by. She dominates this sport that only she, her peers, and rivals understands. There’s a vast amount of news, pictures, websites, and blogs throughout the web to be fitted in this blog. I still have more questions in mind like you but may have newer ones for later. I hope I created a post about her from a different point of view showcasing all her efforts in the sport at the same time becoming a college degree holder preparing for more cobblestones in her future. 

In the meantime, lets wish her all the luck she needs on her continued participation of UCI’s Women’s World Tour with a whole lot more racing to accomplish in different European countries including the race in Northern California this coming May 2017. Get your pens ready to get her autograph!

Photos posted with the permission from Coryn Rivera.

Check her blog at: corynrivera.com

Thank you once again, Coryn! And good luck on you quest for the World Championships and the upcoming Olympics! Double-double Animal style cheese burger and french fries are on me when you're back in town!

Last but not least, I would like to thank Lillian Nakashima for her mentoring in the creation of Coryn's story.

Arden Arindaeng