VICTORIA Sports Cycling Team (VSCT)—the third International Cycling Union (UCI) continental team registered in the country—vowed to establish a reputation as one of the more competitive teams in the Asian circuit.
The mixed team consists of professionals from the Philippines and Portugal and endorsed by the national federation for cycling, PhilCycling, headed by Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.
“The team is composed of a mix of veteran riders and young up-and-coming athletes from the Philippines and Portugal, including two former World Tour riders, José Mendes and André Cardoso,” said Pako Ochoa, one of VSCT’s top Filipino rider.
The other members of the team are Jhay Oconer, Kelvin Mendoza, Márcio Barbosa, Luis Krog, Pedro Paulinho, Ean Cajucom, Mendes, Daniel Cariño and Jerry Aquino.
The team’s officers include Atty. Franco Lacandalo (team representative), Micael Isidoro (sports director), Jobert Catina (rider care and mechanic) and Rayzon Galdonez (assistant sports director).
“One of the team’s goals is to regularly and actively represent the country in major international cycling tournaments in Asia and countries around the world,” Ochoa said. ““Ultimately our ambition is to produce a world-class team that will proudly wear the colors of our country and help raise the profile of cycling in the Philippines.”
Mendez is a former WorldTour Rider for Bora-Hansgrohe and two-time national road champion of Portugal. Cardoso, on the other hand, is a former WorldTour rider for Trek Segafredo.
VSCT is owned by New San Jose Builders Inc. and is backed by San Miguel Corp., Banco De Oro, SM, Tessie Sy-Coson, Grab Philippines and Kevin Wong.
The team’s other sponsors are Gruppo Innovare Corporation-Specialized Philippines, Neo Zigma Cycle Corporation-Shimano and PRO, Cofides Competição, Cebu Pacific, Rudy Project, Manuel L. Quezon University, Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, VS Hotel and Schroeder’s Deli.
The other two Philippine-registered continental teams are 7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines and Go-For-Gold.
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