Between Flag and Fame: The CN–LTdF Crossroads

Based on the structure of cycling governance and national mandates, the primary duty of the national governing body is to develop and select the national team wherein the National Championships (CN) are the official mechanism for the selection of the national cycling team members who will represent the country on major international outings like SEA Games, Asian Games, World Championships and even the Olympics.

The CN, crucial for long-term national development, likewise determines the cyclist who earns the national champion jersey. On this point, CN is inherently considered the national priority as it directly fulfills the primary mandate of the UCI-affiliated national governing body of selecting the national team that will become the country’s contingent in major games.

As for Le Tour de Filipinas, it is about winning a stage or earning prestige in a UCI 2.2 race. With that, it is a strong achievement but synonymous with missing the CN and opportunity to have a national title and possibly a spot on the national team—a ticket to the highly coveted major games mentioned.

So, if a top Filipino rider now has to choose between the two, CN or LTdF, certainly CN must take precedence not just as a national priority but to represent the Philippines emblazoned with national champion jersey in major sporting events.