Dormitorio shows off her gold medal after topping the Women’s 23-Under category yesterday in Manlayag-Patag, Danao City.
Asian Mountain Bike Championships
DESPITE emerging on top in the Women’s 23-Under category of the 24th Asian Mountain Bike Championships and 10th Junior Asian Mountain Bike Championships 2018 Cross Country Tournament yesterday in Manlayag-Patag, Danao City, Ariana Thea Patrice Dormitorio wasn’t quite impressed with the way she performed.
The 21-year-old Philippine Team member from Quezon City won the crown by finishing the 20.74-kilometer race in one hour, 14 minutes and 56 seconds.
It could be considered an easy win as she led all throughout the race, relegating Thailand’s Natalie Panyawan (1:21:06) and Malaysia’s Nur Deena Safia Nor Effandy (1:28:10) to second and third, respectively.
But Dormitorio believes she could have done better.
“I am not that satisfied with my performance because I had a lot of crashes during the race,” Dormitorio said. “I could’ve given more if not because of the cramps I suffered during the race.”
Starting the race at noon yesterday, the intense heat could have affected her performance as she said she suffered cramps every time she encountered the uphill climbs of the course.
Still, she came through with the help of things she learned from her dad.
“My dad taught me to relax and stay calm despite the negative instances that could happen,” she said.
Dormitorio also rode on the momentum of their bronze-medal finish in the team relay competition last Friday.
“That race was so epic. Thailand was running third but one of our teammates somehow managed to surpass the Thai rider. So I am really proud of what the team gave that day,” she said.
Team China won the gold while Japan settled for the silver.
Meanwhile, Japan’s Urara Kawaguchi (35:44) topped the Women’s Junior category. In the Men’s Junior category, Jin Wei Yuan (59:22) of China won the title.
Ruling the Women’s Elite category was Hong Feng Li (1:30:47) of China while Kohei Yamamoto (1:22:16) of Japan topped the Men’s Elite category.
The Men’s U-23, on the other hand, was won by Xianjing Lyu (1:08:59) of China.