From delivery routes to record books: Zedrick Ivan Honorica rewrites PH cycling mark in men’s elite sprint

On most days, Zedrick Ivan Honorica races against time to deliver meals. This weekend in Tagaytay, he raced into history.

In a field stacked with Asia’s best-equipped and most seasoned cyclists, the 21-year-old Filipino armed with a modest bike he uses for work produced a performance that redefined expectations.

Honorica clocked 10.865 seconds in the elite sprint event of the Asian Cycling Confederation Track and Para Track Cycling championships, shattering a Philippine record that had stood for two decades.

The previous mark of 11.42 seconds, set by decorated cyclist Jan Paul Morales during the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, had long been a benchmark for local riders. Honorica, however, broke it without fanfare—and without even knowing he had done it.

“I race in ‘bente-bente,’ nothing more. I wasn’t aware of the national record, but I know Kuya JPM [Morales], him being a champion … he doesn’t know me, though,” said the 21-year-old Honorica.

What makes the feat even more compelling is the contrast between Honorica and his competitors. While many riders in the event relied on cutting-edge machines worth millions, Honorica rode a humble setup, a P2,500 frame paired with wheels costing P12,000—funded through his work as a delivery rider.

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Zedrick Ivan Honorica just set a new Philippine record in men elite sprint using the same bike he uses in plying his trade for @foodpandaPH.

He clocked in at 10.865 seconds, beating Jan Paul Morales’s 20-year-old record of 11.42 seconds, which was set at The Asian Games in Doha. pic.twitter.com/Yng0T9VGOF

— PHSports LiveScores (@LiveScoresPH) March 29, 2026

He ultimately placed 21st out of 22 competitors, with Japan’s Kaiya Ota dominating the event in 9.348 seconds. But placement told only part of the story. 

While Honorica’s record stole the spotlight, another Filipino quietly delivered a milestone of his own.

Para cyclist Patrick Gerard Lee secured the country’s first medal of the tournament, earning bronze in the men’s C5 scratch race. It marked not only a podium finish but also a significant step forward for the national para cycling program in its first continental exposure.

Lee battled through a competitive 14-rider field, finishing behind Uzbekistan’s Azimbek Abdullaev and Japan’s Ruito Kameda. Fellow Filipino Joel Inn Tacutaco placed fifth in the same race, adding to the team’s encouraging showing.

More importantly, Lee’s podium finish earned valuable qualification points toward the 2028 Paralympic Games in Los Angeles.

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