NINO SURBAN and Ariana Dormitorio triumphed as expected while two youngsters displayed strong potential as competitive cycling returned over the weekend in the PhilCycling National Trials for MTB in Danao City.
Surban, the men’s cross-country silver medalist in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, conquered the six-lap highly-technical 3K track atop the challenging hills of Sitio Bugho in Barangay Sandayong Sur to win the men’s gold medal in one hour, 22 minutes and 11.21 seconds.
Jericho Rivera crossed the uphill finish some two and a half minutes after Surban to settle for the silver medal, while Mark Louwel Valderama was more than a minute back for the bronze medal.
Dormitorio was as dominant in the women’s race–a shorter five-loop ride also over a 3K loop–and won the gold medal in 1:29:50.75.
Nicole Quinones, daughter of Vietnam 2003 Men’s MTB gold medalist Eusebio Quinones, raced her first women’s elite race and bagged the silver medal with a 1:42:12.89 clocking. Pamela Jane Ruiz clinched the bronze in 1:48:25.24.
Young cyclists also showed potential to be next in line as national team members.
Gart Gaerlan topped the Men’s Junior race (four laps, 12.4K) in 1:03.27.73, followed by Marvin Dave Cerilo (2:07.32 behind) and another Quinones, Matthew Simon (6:08.12 behind).
Athena Marie Magpantay, the Batang Pinoy champion in Puerto Princesa in 2018, remained in top form and ruled the Women’s Junior category in 1:11:11.44. Jasmin Philsen Babol (1:20:26.26) and Alianah Therese Velasco (1:24:03:09) completed the podium.
“Cycling is back,” PhilCycling head Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, also the Philippine Olympic Committee president, said. “It’s more than a year since we had an official race and this competition in Danao City marks our sport’s return.”
