Mark John Lexer Galedo was unbeatable in the individual time trial for Masters and Standard Insurance riders, and ruled the women’s under-23 individual road race in the PhilCycling National Championships for Road 2026 earlier this week.

But the week’s highlight was the awarding of the Mark Arvin España Armendez Gold Medal to the men's junior road race champion – won by Kim Jerome Duremdes – that was preceded by a presentation of a certificate to the fallen 18-year-old rider’s parents, Johny and Marlyn, and sister Joanna Mae.

"Thank you very much for the tribute to our son who was truly dedicated to cycling. Before he died, he was already training for the national championships," a teary Marlyn Armendez told cyclists and the crowd during the tribute.

The young Armendez died of electrocution while fishing using an improvised electric device in a swamp behind their home in Barangay Palina East in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, last 22 January, exactly a week before his 19th birthday.

Galedo brought the championship act that made him back-to-back individual time trial titlist in the master's 40 to 44 age category of the Asian Cycling Confederation Road Championships and dominated the 18-kilometer race-against-the-clock in 22 minutes.

The former Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, now a member of the national road coaching staff, won by 40 seconds over Ronnel Hualda and almost one and a half minutes over third-placer Jacinto Barbaran Jr. in the event presented by Standard Insurance and the MVP Sports Foundation.

The girls of Standard Insurance, meanwhile, stamped their class in the women’s under-23 road race of the event also supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, Tagaytay City headed by Mayor Brent Tolentino, Excellent Noodles and 7-Eleven Philippines.

Angela Joy Marie Bermejo ruled the 88km race in 2:07:45, followed by a wheel by teammates Angelica Elvira and a bike length by Rayven Joy Valdez.