About The Cyclist

Victor Espiritu was born on September 22, 1975. Victor is the first born among the five broods of Rosalina Dionco- Espitiru from Macalelong, Quezon, and Gerardo Baluyot Espiritu of Marikina. He grew up with his extended family in Mesina, Tinajeros, Malabon.

Victor is not the typical young boy growing up in their suburban neighborhood. He is a mischievous child who never goes tired of asking trivial questions. At a very young age of 13, he is already an active member of their community. Every summer, he worked at the local heath center with his brothers and cousins. He also played drums and lyre in their community band. The neighborhood watched his athletic prowess in their local basketball, volleyball, marathon, and chess competitions, where he excelled.

At the Age of 15, the young Victor discovered cycling as a recreation every Sunday with his father. After just a few months of weekend rides, he became competitive and started winning community and town races on his squeaky semi-racer bike, bagging home medals and trophies. A year later, at the age of 16, he joined the elimination race for the annual cycling tour. Despite his little experience in the sport, he qualified and even beat veteran riders. But, he was prohibited to join the tour due to his young age.

In spite of his failure to join the tour, Victor continued to shine in local races, and finally became a part of the national cycling team on the same year. He sustained his winning streak and even won bigger races starred by both local and international amateur cyclists. It is very important to note that he is a member of the junior cycling team but was competing and winning against the senior category. In 1995, he joined his mentors in the Philippine Army. Some of his memorable achievements were his medals in every South East Asian Games he joined, the Marlboro Tour 1996 (Rookie Champion at the age of 20), 1997 and 1998, Asian Games 1999, Tour de Merdeka 1997, Tour de Langkawi 1996-2001, and the citations and awards he received from different sports institutions.

In 2004, Victor became the captain of the first ever trade team in the Philippines. Like what he did when he was still the captain of the national team, he continued to practice his principles and cycling ethics as team captain, as he led his team and work for the team for the common goal and success beyond his personal desires.

At present, Victor is a very proud dad of his only child, Victor Cristi, and a husband to wife, Christine. He continues to race with the support of his family, the Philippine Army and his loyal and true friends.

INTERNATIONAL CYCLING ACHIEVEMENTS

2008
o UCI World Cup Track Cycling Classic Los Angeles– 13th Place, Heat 2 Men’s Points Race

2007
o SEA Games, Thailand– Gold Medalist 40KM Points Race
o SEA Games, Thailand- Bronze Medalist 4KM Team Pursuit 

o SEA Games, Thailand- 5th Place 42KM Individual Time Trial 
o Tour of Thailand - Team Champion
o Asia Cup Track, Thailand- Bronze Medalist 4KM Team Pursuit
o Tour of Thailand - Team Champion
o Asian Cycling Championship, Thailand- 7th Place, 42KM Individual Time Trial
o Asian Cycling Championship, Thailand- 18th Place, 197KM Road Race

• 2006
o Le Tour De Langkawi, Malaysia – 10th Asian Individual Category

• 2005
o Tour of East Java, Indonesia
o Diesam Soe Tur Op Indonesia
o Tour of Korea
o Tour of Japan

• 2004
o Le Tour De Langkawi, Malaysia – 11th Asian Individual Category
o Tour of Korea – 12th Place General Classification
o Tour de Taiwan – 13th Place

• 2003
o Le Tour De Langkawi, Malaysia – 5th Asian Individual Category
o SEA Games, Vietnam – Silver Medalist Individual Time Trial

• 2002
o Le Tour De Langkawi, Malaysia – 7th Asian Individual Category, 3rd Asian Team Category
o Asian Games, Korea – 7th Place Indvidual Time Trial
o Eagle Tour of Malaysia – 17th Place General Classification

• 2001
o Le Tour De Langkawi, Malaysia – 5th Asian Individual Category, Team Champion Asian Team Category
o Asian Cycling Championship, Taiwan – 6th 4km Team Pursuit
o SEA Games, Malaysia – Bronze Medalist 4km Team Pursuit, Bronze Medalist 40km Individual Time Trial

• 2000
o Le Tour De Langkawi, Malaysia – 4th Asian Individual Category, 2nd Place Asian Team Category

• 1999
o SEA Games, Brunei – Bronze Medalist 40km Individual Time Trial
o Tour of Kuala Terenganu- 3rd Over-all General Classification, Yellow Jersey Holder

• 1998
o Asian Games, Thailand – Bronze Medalist Individual Road Race
o Le Tour De Langkawi, Malaysia – 4th Asian Individual Category, Team Champion Asian Category
o Marlboro Tour Ng Pilipinas – 2nd Runner-up General Classification, Team Champion, Best Young Rider, Mountain King, Points Champion, 4 Stage Win

• 1997
o SEA Games, Indonesia – Gold Medalist 40km. Individual Time Trial, Bronze Medalist Individual Road Race, Bronze Medalist 4km. Team Pursuit
o Marlboro Tour Ng Pilipinas – 1st Runner-up General Classification, 2nd Place Team Classification, Team of the Mountain, Best Young Rider, Mountain King, 1 Stage Win, Yellow Jersey Holder
o Jemputan Wilayah, Malaysia – 2nd Runner-up General Classification, 1st Runner-up Team Classification, Mountain King, 1 Stage Win

• 1996
o Marlboro Tour Ng Pilipinas – Overall Champion, Team Champion, Rookie of the Year, 3 Stage Win
o Jemputan Wilayah, Jelajah Merdeka, Malaysia – Overall Champion, Mountain King, 2 Stage Win

• 1995
o SEA Games, Thailand – Silver Medalist 4km Team Pursuit
o Oceania Cycling Championship, Australia – Gold Medalist 4km Team Pursuit
o Asian Cycling Championship, Manila – 4th Place 4km Team Pursuit

LOCAL CYCLING ACHIVEMENTS

• 2004
o Air 21 Tour Pilipinas – 10th Place General Classification
o CSI Overall and Team Champion
o CSI Last Leg Winner

• 2003
o FEDEX Tour Elimination – Rank 1 Final Result

• 2002
o AFP-PNP Olympics – Gold Medalist Team Pursuit, Silver Medalist Individual Pursuit
o FEDEX Tour Elimination – Rank 1 Final Result

• 2001
o AFP-PNP Olympics – Gold Medalist Team Pursuit, Gold Medalist Individual Pursuit, Gold Medalist Point Race

• 2000
o AFP-PNP Olympics – Gold Medalist Team Pursuit, Gold Medalist Individual Pursuit, Silver Medalist Point Race
o Tour of Cebu – Team Champion, 2nd Runner-up Individual Category, 3 Stage Win

• 1999
o Manila-Baguio Race – 1st Runner-up

• 1998
o AFP-PNP Olympics – Gold Medalist Team Pursuit, Gold Medalist Individual Pursuit

• 1997
o AFP-PNP Olympics – Gold Medalist Team Pursuit, Gold Medalist Individual Pursuit, Gold Medalist Point Race
o Philippine National Games, Cebu – Gold Medalist Individual Time Trial, Gold Medalist Road Race, Gold Medalist Individual Pursuit, Gold Medalist Point Race

• 1996
o AFP-PNP Olympics – Gold Medalist Team Pursuit, Gold Medalist Individual Pursuit, Gold Medalist Point Race
o Philippine National Games, Manila –Gold Medalist Individual Pursuit, Gold Medalist Point Race

• 1995
o AFP-PNP Olympics – Gold Medalist Team Pursuit, Gold Medalist Individual Pursuit, Gold Medalist Point Race

• 1994
o Philippine National Games, Manila – Silver Medalist Point Race