VIENTIANE — Twelve national cyclists, including defending champions Joey Barba and Maritess Bibit, worked out Monday, two days before the start of competition in the 25th Southeast Asian Games here.

Despite the uncertainty of their participation, the Filipinos are prepared and ready to compete, according to Philcycling secretary-general Armando Bautista who heads the team here.

“We tried to insulate them from politics at home. We don’t want them to get involved. Basta sila, prepare lang for the Games. Para sa bayan,” said Bautista.

Bautista criticized the International Cycling Union (UCI) for not recognizing the new set of officers of Philcycling.

“We have the recognition of the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC). The local courts have ruled in our favor. What else should we do to get UCI’s nod,” Bautista said.

The UCI continues to recognize Tagaytay Mayor Abraham Tolentino as president and has ruled that only licenses signed by Tolentino would be recognized.

The POC stepped into the cycling row back home when two groups held separate elections to find a successor for outgoing president Bert Lina.

Tolentino did not participate in the new election called by the POC, maintaining it already has the recognition of the UCI.

During the POC-supervised new election, young businessman Mikee Romero was elected president.

The conflict reached the local courts. Last October, a local judge stopped Tolentino’s group from representing Philcycling.

Romero has since taken a leave to attend to pressing business matters. He owns Harbour Centre, one of the country’s largest ports.

The first event in cycling – the mountain bike downhill – is set Wednesday with Barba defending his crown.

Unless the UCI recognizes the licenses signed by the new Philcycling leadership, the riders won’t be allowed to participate.

The cycling events are supervised by the Asian Cycling Federation.

In a show of unity and solidarity, all member countries have written an appeal to the UCI to grant temporary licenses to Filipino riders.

Datu Siatok Che, secretary-general of the Malaysian Olympic Committee, wrote the letter, citing the significance of the Games’ 50th year of existence and Laos’ first hosting of the biennial event.