UMAKIT ng mahigit 200 mountain bike enthusiasts, tampok ang mga premyadong MTB riders ang 2019 Philippine Mountain Bike National Championships – bahagi ng qualifying meet para sa National Team na isasabak sa 30th Southeast Asian Games – kamakailan sa Rizal.
Ang dalawang araw na karera ay sanctioned ng Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), at tampok ang event na Downhill Mountain Biking (DHI) at Cross-Country Olympic (XCO).
Inorganisa ng 7-Eleven, sa pakikipagtulungan ng National Federation of Cycling (PhilCycling), ang Philippine Mountain Bike National Championships (PH MBNC) ay naglalayong pataasin ang kamalayan ng sambayanan sa mountain biking at makahanap nang mga atletang sasanayin sa National Team para sa iba’t ibang international UCI-sanctioned races.
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“7-Eleven is one of the leading proponents for the sport of cycling here in the Philippines. It’s a sport that’s close to our heart. The collaboration with PhilCycling aimed at making the National Championships more accessible to Filipino cyclists. We are very happy for the turnout this year – at 252 registrants, it’s the biggest pool of registration so far and we are committed to improve on those numbers. Filipinos can excel in mountain biking -- we have talented cyclists and we have good topography for mountain bike courses. We can produce world champions, we only need to have a systematic approach,” pahayag ni Victor Paterno, CEO and President of 7-Eleven Philippines, isang aktibo at kompetitibong mountain biker.
Binagtas ng mga kalahok ang mapaghamon at akyating daan sa kabundukan ng Patiis, San Mateo, Rizal na may distansiyang 2-km para sa DHI course, habang ang XCO race course ay may habang 5.5-km at kinabibilangan ang mapanhamong bahagi ng Timberland Heights.
Ang mga nagwagi sa Elite Category (Men and Women) ay may pagkakataong mapasama sa National Team na isasabak sa Manila SEA Games sa Nobyembre. Nakakuha rin sila ng 100 UCI points para sa kanilang paghahangad na makasikwat ng slots sa 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Nakamit ni Niño Martin Eday ang kampeonato sa men’s elite class sa tyempong 2:34:785.
“It has been a childhood dream of mine to join international competitions, and now that I have achieved it, I am really honored and proud to be given the chance to represent our country in the upcoming SEA Games,” pahayag ng 26-anyos biking champ mula sa Iloilo City.
Nakuha naman ni Lea Denise Belgira, 22, ng Guimaras, ang UCI-DHI women;s elite title sa tyempong 3:21:996.
“More than being focused on the training and practicing self-discipline, it is important to be passionate in whatever you want to do,” sambit ni Belgira.
Nagwagi naman sa DHI Elite Men category sina Eleazar Barba (0:02:35.781) at John Derick Farr (0:02:36.371), habang sina Naomi Gardoce (0:03:28.566) at Marinela Puno (0:04:02.609) ang nanguna sa e DHI Elite Women podium.
Sa XCO Elite Men category, nakamit ni EJ Flores ang unang puwesto (1:32:11) laban kina veteran internationalist Nino Surban (1:32:56) at Alvin Benosa (1:33:46).
Tinanghal namang Timberland Queen of the Mountain si Ariana Dormitorio matapos manguna sa XCO Women’s Elite category sa tyempong 1:26:39, kasunod sina Avegail Rombaon (1:30:25) at Mellisa Jane Jaroda (1:38:20).
“Filipinos are strong contenders for mountain bike racing in the international scene. We’ve proven ourselves in the past. Through events like this and with the help of brands such as 7-Eleven, we will be able to hone more our cyclists’ talents. The best way to prepare them is to localize world-class level competition through National Championships,” pahayag ni Oscar Durano, Vice President ng PhilCycling at head ng MTB Commission.
