By Ron Guerrero
TAGAYTAY CITY, Cavite – Mark John Lexer Galedo claimed the top spot in the Masters individual time trial at the PhilCycling National Road Championships on Friday, completing the 18-kilometer course in just 22 minutes. The victory placed him 40 seconds ahead of Ronnel Hualda and nearly 90 seconds ahead of Jacinto Barbaran Jr., highlighting Galedo’s continued dominance in the Masters 40-44 age group.
A former Southeast Asian Games gold medalist and recent back-to-back winner at the Asian Cycling Confederation Road Championships in Thailand and Saudi Arabia, Galedo is also part of the national road coaching staff, where he mentors the next generation of cyclists.
The event also featured a poignant tribute to junior champion Kim Jerome Duremdes. He was posthumously awarded the Mark Arvin España Armendez gold medal, and his parents and sister were presented with a certificate in his honor. Duremdes tragically passed away on January 22 from electrocution while fishing in Barangay Palina East, Urdaneta City, just days before his 19th birthday.
Meanwhile, the women’s U23 road race saw Standard Insurance riders sweep the podium. Angela Joy Marie Bermejo crossed the finish line first in 2:07:45, closely followed by teammates Angelica Elvira and Rayven Joy Valdez. The championship was made possible through the support of Standard Insurance, MVP Sports Foundation, the Philippine Sports Commission, and the Philippine Olympic Committee.
