Chapter 3. Race 2: 500-meter Individual Time Trial. Olympian Deogracias Asuncion at UCI's 2014 Masters Track Cycling World Championships

Race Day # 2. October 5, 2014 Sunday, 3 days after arriving. 30-lap Scratch Race. 500-meter Individual Time Trial.

Deo's warm-up built up correctly and were able to simulate a couple of his races on rollers as he was scheduled for Heat 7. Bike checked done afterwards. His friend Mike Birditt who won yesterday's 60-64 Scratch Race from a breakaway went and raced his 500-m ITT earlier mentioned of the need for heavy gearing, we immediately changed to a larger chainring.

We all know that Deo is a spinner but he's been convinced of the need of heavy gearing in track racing! We moved to the waiting area early enough so he can get settled in and to calm down. I think that was one of the many right moves we have done. Eventually, his bike was brought to the starting gate and we were on!

Despite the known fact the he clocks in at 40-seconds and that 35 seconds will win a medal, we were confident that he can go faster that his usual which he did at 38.440 seconds! Here's his results with 8 more heats to go.

Most of our peers dished out some pain and some won medals from Match Sprints, Individual Time Trials, and Team Pursuits. You need to know the results?! Personally, it didn't matter, he still outperformed his limits! I respect him for that!

Coach/Manager Arden Arindaeng

Chapter 2. Race 1: 30-lap Scratch Race. Olympian Deogracias Asuncion at UCI's 2014 Masters Track Cycling World Championships

Race Day # 1. October 4, 2014 Saturday, 2 days after arriving. 30-lap Scratch Race.

We arrived at the Velodrome at 6:00 am but the doors didn't open till 7:30! Deo had an 8-9 am training session and this is the reason we arrived early... to get ready, warm-up easy on rollers before getting started with the session! That's only 30 minutes to get ready! I should have asked the receptionist what time this place opens! I'll take that for the team! So what did we do? We were stuck in the car freezing our arshes off but we exchanged so much stories, it was still well-worth the time! Time had passed and the doors were finally opened, he was able to ride easy at the track as planned and relax before the event began at 2 pm. Registration and credentials were taken care of also.

It was surprising that 3 out of 27 registered racers did not sign in.... at this highest level of Masters racing! This meant not having more than 25 racers to create 2 separate Heat races. This resulted to going straight to Finals later that evening. This also meant that we can't gamble warming up for the Heats because of the short time of that decision.

I was somewhat worried because we woke up at 4:00 am, had a couple of scones and coffee before heading out, too many times riding the rollers until the right time to warm-up (Deo mentioned that he wanted to ride on rollers long enough anyway), some porridge at 10 am for a mid morning meal (it was really nothing), and no lunch at all. At least we brought the extra scones, some fruits, a few bottles of water and energy drinks bought from the grocery store.

The time got close, bike was checked at 1 gram over the weight limit. Side note: What is a gram?! Grime on the chain or extra long bar tape?! We passed the first assignment with flying colors!

All competitors started rolling at the middle of the infield prior to getting briefed and rolling out for the neutral lap.

Deo did rock the house that night! I think I've finally seen the craziest Points Race ever with endless attacks at high speeds from start to finish! Even at the neutral lap, there was too much testosterone going on! Deo did his fare share in the house of pain, watching everyone from the back to going to the front involving himself in the attacks at the first half of the race. He even took turns leading the peloton on an attack to get back to the 2 breakaway groups.

Eventually with the others doing their fare share like "it's now or never" kind'a move, they eventually pulled everyone back to one group just like how they started but with about 8 laps left in the race, and still strung out! Deo made a valiant effort to move up in position with 5 laps to go. He officially finished 12th place with all 24 racers sprinting to the finish line. That was very respectable especially with technical race like that! How many people do you know who can still do this kind of thing at this level! 

To end that day, most of our California friends won medals from Team sprints and Scratch Race with Larry Nolan of Specialized USA and Michael Birditt winning their respective Scratch Races with domination and strength.

Oh, one last note, did you notice his wheelset? Those were the ones he used during his 2007 UCI Track World Cup that was held in Los Angeles. Finally, redemption was real with the same race but with super heavy gear for our standards, if you know what I mean! Our homework scored an "A"! It was a good night of World Track Championship racing!

Coach/Manager Arden Arindaeng

Chapter 1. The journey had started. Olympian Deogracias Asuncion at UCI's 2014 Masters Track Cycling World Championships

Sometime last year after assisting 7-Eleven Cycling Team at Philippines' biggest Tour event: Ronda Pilipinas. Deo mentioned to me about his decision to race at World level once again. He was convinced by his long time friend Manny Ibay who is the President of the National Masters and Seniors Athletic Association of the Philippines. Many months had passed, he finally got his track bike assembled but it still took us a while making sure his bike is UCI legal. His track training at VSC had started and winning local Criterium races in the process and later earning his first State Masters Championship jersey. We seriously looked into his track riding earlier this year experimenting on different gears and wheels. Friday nights training at the track with Shon Halasi, very promising Jordan Ellison, and at times with Masters Sprint World Champion and Coach Gibby Hatton and Louie Rivera was very helpful. Not to mention Coach Roger Young's Tuesday and Thursday night sessions and is usual Criterium training nights and weekend racing.

The final months came, PhilCycling and her daughter Diana was getting involved with the logistics. Our travel arrangements were taking place. Thank you once again to all who helped with the expenses, borrowed bike cases, and airport transportation. Finally, we were at the point of no return.

It's amazing how expensive it is to check in extra luggage during air travel. It was a long flight indeed but it felt very different because of what Deo and I were set to do. It's not like travelling for a vacation. Many hours had passed and we were finally in front of the Immigration Officer at Manchester Airport. With his Brit accent, asking us the purpose of our visit. It was actually pretty neat to say that we are going to compete at UCI's Masters Track Cycling Championships at National Cycling Centre. Just like that, our passports were stamped and off we went to get our luggages.

It was cold and drizzly wet that morning getting out of the airport dragging both bike cases and luggages out to catch the shuttle bus. We were fortunate that the auto hire we requested was changed from a midsize stationwagon to a minivan. Everything we brought fitted in nicely with some room to spare. Driving off to the hotel was not an easy thing to do… the long flight, right-side steering wheel, had to drive on the wrong side of the road, and my first time driving for real in UK! To make the "2-mile drive through the motorway and runabouts" story short, we arrived at the hotel alive! It was still early but we were able to get our room and rest.  This day was basically to relax, assemble his road bike, and find dinner!

The following morning, our Olympian went out for a spin…. it was cold, roads were narrow and wet, the morning traffic was in full swing and had to figure his way back because he got lost! But no worries, he was able to get back alive! Cleaned the dirt off his road bike and we later drove north to National Cycling Centre  where the event venue will be. Setting up the GPS was different. Needless to say, we got lost around downtown and I now consider that as a tour of Manchester! All the excitement was so strong as we arrived. Seeing Henry Shibata of Encino Velodrome and Gerry Agnew was a welcome surprise! That also meant that Arizona's Miss Gia and her Mom arrived also. Deo unpacked his track bike and got it assembled in record time. We also got the rollers we hired and there goes Deo again for a spin! This first full day was very important to get settled in.

Jim and Carol Kloss, Robert and Rebecca Pelegrin, Mike Birditt, and Kurt Sato, also arrived that afternoon straight from the airport. Jay Wolkoff, Coach Travis Smith, and Coach Andy Lakatosh arrived the next day as with other folks from Texas, Colorado, and NorCal. We were also the first ones to stake our temporary home in the infield.

We finished up later that afternoon and drove back to the hotel... we were alive once again! We had a "smiley face" night of sleep as we knew that this was the first biggest hurdle we had to cross! We should be cruising till the day we return home.... knock on wood!

Coach/Manager Arden Arindaeng