Cajucom gets rave reviews

CLARK FIELD, Pampanga — The main strategist of the Victoria Sports Pro Cycling Team believes the future is very bright for Ean Cajucom, who has logged back-to-back stage victories in the ongoing Tour of Luzon.

El Joshua Carino, the Tour champion in 2019 and now serving as Victoria Sports Pro Cycling Team supervisor, offered nothing but rave reviews for the club’s current top rider in the eight-stage race.

Moments after Cajucom, just 22, ruled the 163.76-kilometer Stage 4 of the revived race that flagged off from Agoo in La Union on Sunday, Carino could not help but praise him to the high heavens.

“Pure sprinter,” Carino, now 32, said when asked by reporters who were all hungry for more information on the Marikina-based pedal pusher.

Carino said Cajucom was recruited by the team after learning of his exploits in local races.

“He was winning a lot of races and that’s why we got him and even sent him to train and compete in Europe,” Carino said, noting that Cajucom spent most of his time in “Asturias in Spain and in Greece.”

“We told him to make the most out of his time there because the races are fast and when he gets back in Asia and in the country, it will be easier for him to win races.”

That’s exactly what has happened the last two days after Cajucom made waves by ruling the Vigan to Agoo leg on Saturday.

However, Carino admits that the remaining stages will be tough as all riders will push harder and harder, making it hard for Cajucom and the rest of the Victoria crew to grab the spotlight anew.

“The true race will begin tomorrow (Monday).”

Stage 5 will be a Clark-to-Clark run that will cover a distance of 152.92 kilometers with Tarlac also serving as the arena for the riders to showcase their road savvy, endurance and toughness.