TAGAYTAY City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino was unanimously elected as the new president of the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines during polls held yesterday at the Amoranto Stadium Multi-purpose Hall in Quezon City.

The 15-member board of directors chose Tolentino to replace businessman-sportsman Bert Lina as its new head following an election that lasted for five hours.

Tolentino said that one of his biggest tasks as head of the country’s governing body in cycling is to work on its recognition following the refusal of the Philippine Olympic Committee to recognize PhilCycling.

But at the same time, he said that his group should work to unite all cycling groups in the country, so as to continue with his other tasks, such as the need to identify and develop new cycling talents from the grassroots level, particularly in the Visayas and Mindanao region.

“I humbly accept this, including the big responsibility ahead,” said Tolentino after the 15-member board made their deliberations without the presence of a POC observer.

The POC has appointed Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella to mediate between Tolentino’s group and another body headed by sportsman Rolando Hiso, who held their own election last month. But Puentevella did not attend yesterday’s event. Peter Atencio