6th Fil-Am Criterium Grand Prix set March 25 in Pampanga

The first Fil-Am Criterium Grand Prix was held at the Neopolitan Complex in Fairview, Quezon City. (PNA photo)

MANILA — The 6th Fil-Am Criterium Grand Prix, which is organized by former national cyclist Wilson Blas, will be held in Clark, Pampanga on March 25.

The Clark Development Corp.’s parade grounds will be the venue of the competition, which features eight categories, namely, Men’s Pro, Women’s Open, Junior (29 years old and below), Senior (30-39 years old), Veterans (40-49 years old), Master (50 years old and above), Manager Race, and Celebrity.

“By organizing this tournament, I know that I am helping my fellow cyclists. I want them to stay active and healthy,” said Blas, a member of the national track team from 1993 to 2004, in an interview Monday.

Blas, a native of Malabon City, migrated to the United States in 2005. He was a sophomore nursing student at the Arellano University before he left and continued his studies in the US. He is now working as assistant nurse at the St. Vincent Medical Center in California.

“I never left cycling when I moved to the US. As an athlete, I know that Filipino cyclists are good. I decided to join cycling clubs. I was a member of the Velo Lagrange Pro 1/2 cycling team, now I am with the Southbay Wheelman team,” said Blas, an enlisted member of the Philippine Army during his time in the national team.

With the support of his cycling friends in the US, Blas was able to organize the Fil-Am Criterium Grand Prix.

“My friends and teammates here are very supportive of my advocacy. They donated most of the prizes for the tournament,” said Blas.

“I am thankful to Richard Hiraga, the founder of GQ6 hydration supplements for providing the champion jersey, as well as Grace Manzano, Roy Cruz, Jun Villalobos, Carlo Ponce, Jim Meneses, and Fil-American triathlete Noriel Sinsuangco. These people have been helping me since the first Fil-Am Criterium race in 2012,” said the Southest Asian Games (SEAG) medalist.

The first Fil-Am Criterium Grand Prix was held at the Neopolitan Complex in Fairview, Quezon City. The following year, the tournament was held in Meycauyan, Bulacan. The next three stagings were at the Quezon Memorial Circle. Last year’s competition attracted 500 riders.

“As long as I can, I will continue to help our cyclists. The Fil-Am Criterium Grand Prix is my little way of giving back to the sport,” said Blas, who broke the 1-km national record in the UCI World Cup. He also eclipsed the national sprint record in the Asian Cycling Championships in Taiwan.

Blas was a silver medalist in the 1995 SEA Games in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He won the bronze in the 1-km event and team pursuit in the 1997 SEAG in Jakarta, Indonesia. He also bagged the bronze in the team sprint and team pursuit in the 2001 SEAG in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.