Seven athletes led by national champion Mathilda Krogg arrived in Vietnam’s capital city of Ho Chi Minh on Monday to compete in the 13th Binh Duong Women’s Cycling Championship – Biwase Cup 2023.

With Krogg, who won the Under-23 Criterium gold medal at the PhilCycling National Championships for Road 2022, are fellow national team members Kate Yasmin Velasco, Avegail Rombaon, Marianne Dacumos and Mhay Ann Lina and two other riders — Jelsie Sabado and Maura de los Reyes, who substituted for national athletes who couldn’t join the race because of studies.

Coaches Marita Lucas, Alfie Catalan and Joey de los Reyes are also part of the 10-member delegation supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission, Tagaytay City, MVP Sports Foundation, Standard Insurance, Excellent Noodles and 7-Eleven.

“The goal is for our women’s team to get at least one foreign exposure ahead of the Southeast Asian Games,” said POC president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, also head of the PhilCycling.

The race will start on March 8 as the world celebrates International Women’s Day with a 66-km criterium around Binh Duong New City.

The tournament, organized by the Vietnam Cycling Federation, covers 1,101 kilometers and ends on March 17 in Thu Dau Mot City. The competition will be livestreamed on https://www.facebook.com/vcfchannel/posts/pfbid0JWL3EfCcczQdEMuN7aZTHTpnDKxn8QG2dB7Y8Ur9VwC7NLw8yYkS8zKTxEWA54bcl.

After the Biwase Cup, the entire national team will have a training camp for both the road and mountain bike disciplines. (PNA)