National athletes Ronald Oranza and Jude Gabriel Francisco and Filipino-American Mary Joyce Monton dominated the Criterium races to kick start action in the PhilCycling National Championships for Road 2026 on Monday in Tagaytay City.
Oranza topped the men elite category, Francisco ruled the men U23 and Monton, racing out of Los Angeles, was the best in women elite of the championships organized by the PhilCycling headed by Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.
Edson Corbadora and Ronnilan Quita completed the men’s elite podium of the event raced over a 2.2-kilometer circuit that started and finished at Tagaytay City’s Praying Hands Momument, with Marvin Mandac and Mark Alex Baruelo finishing 1-2 in the U23 race.
National team mainstays Maritoni Krog and Phoebe Salazar wound up behind Monton while Rayven Joy Valdez, Althea Campana and Angeline Elvira reigned supreme in women’s U23 event.
The junior races saw CJ Cabreros, Kylle Flores and Piolo Calimlim completing the Men’s podium and Maria Louisse Criselle Alejado, Althea Nicole Coronado and Eloiza Pajarito winning the women’s contest.