Ariana Dormitorio of Team Ariana Specialized leads a pack of riders in Danao City.
CDN photo/James Savellon
After failing to finish last year, Dormitorio recovers to win title
Pinoy racer Ariana Dormitorio of Team Ariana Specialized bounced back from a disastrous finish last year, winning the Women’s Elite National crown in the cross-country competition of the 2017 Philippine MTB National Championships and Asian Invitational yesterday at the Danasan Eco Adventure Park in Danao City, northern Cebu.
The 21-year-old Dormitorio from Manila clocked one hour, 13 minutes and 29.6 seconds to be crowned champion.
“It was a surreal moment for me because last year when I joined this race, I had a bad accident,” said Dormitorio.
In the 2016 edition of this race also in Danao, Dormitorio failed to finish the race after she fell off a drop.
She said that that accident motivated her to train harder for the race, especially since part of her competition included members of the Thailand MTB National Team.
“It’s not a joke, they’re really one of the strongest riders here in Asia,” Dormitorio said of the Thai riders, who incidentally were her runners-up.
Finishing second and third were Thailand’s Nuntana Supaksorn and Warinothorn Phetraphan, respectively.
Meanwhile, Cesar Lapaza Jr. of the Cycleline Extreme Team – Butuan City took the Men’s Elite title and Team Prima – Sandugo’s Jericho Rivera won the Men’s Junior crown.
Winners of other categories were Thailand’s Keerati Sukprasart (Asian Men’s Elite), Jun Duron of Rapidino Race Team (Men’s Master A), Alfredo Rivera of Team Prima Sandugo (Men’s Master B), Jonel Carcueva of Go For Gold Philippines (Men’s Sport), and Thai Onthuree Watcharakorn (Men’s Junior).