Go for Gold Cycling Series founder Jeremy Go at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum, November 12, 2024 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Handout/PSA

MANILA -- The founder of the Go for Gold Cycling Series is eyeing an expanded tour in 2025 after the success of its three-leg criterium races this season.

Founder Jeremy Go said the sports foundation will be eyeing to hold additional races and events for the year 2025, still covering Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

His long-term goal is a cycling league that will be a year-long offering, with an overall series champion upon its conclusion.

"Next year, we will probably have more legs. Actually, naka-plot na yan that we will have more legs. Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao pa rin. And then we want to add more events, especially road races and time trials," said Go as he appeared in the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum Tuesday at the gallery room of the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

The Go For Gold Series went nationwide this year by holding races in Pampanga, Cebu, and just recently, General Santos City.

READ: Go For Gold Criterium race heads to Cebu

Aside from the additional events and races, Go is also open to possibly adopting a cumulative point system to determine an overall champion by the end of the series.

"We want to create a cycling league, which hopefully will encourage more riders and more teams to participate and bring up the growth of cycling dito sa Pilipinas," he added.

"We're looking forward to next year and we're looking forward to more teams and more riders to participate on a consistent basis."

At least two provinces in Northern Luzon and in the Visayas have seriously signified their intentions to host the races by next year, said Go. However, he opted not to name them.

"That's the good thing about these provinces that have reached out to me, hindi pa sila that well known sa cycling. That's why we want to go there and discover yung talent nila doon," he said. "Pero very soon. Siguro by January maa-announce na natin."

But Go said this year's racing series was a good gauge on how things will unfold for cycling next season.

"It's been a very successful 2024 for us," said Go, adding originally Go For Gold only planned to hold a single race this year, but eventually decided to hold three races to give a chance for riders from Visayas and Mindanao to participate.

"There's a saying that before you can run, you need to learn how to walk."