Surban, Dormitorio top mountain bike races in Danao

As expected cyclist Nino Surban (center) top the men’s category of the Philippine National MTB XCO (Cross Country) Championships in Danao City held over the weekend. | Contributed photo

CEBU CITY, Philippines — As expected, Cebuano cycling sensation Niño Surban and Ilongga Ariana Dormitorio emerged as the top cyclists during last weekend’s 2021 Philippine National MTB XCO (Cross country) Championships held in Danao City, north Cebu. 

Although both cyclists virtually secured their slots for the upcoming Southeast Asian Games (SEAG), they needed to flex their winning form yesterday because PhilCycling, the governing body of cycling in the Philippines, closely monitored their performances.

No less than Oscar “Boying” Rodriguez Jr., PhilCycling vice president and Danao City Sports Commission (DCSC) chairman, has told CDN Digital that they have not officially selected the Philippine team for mountain bike for the upcoming 31st SEA Games in Hanoi, Vietnam.

“I reminded all of them after the competition that one race will not decide your inclusion to the national team. There is always a time that bad luck happens. I’m not making that as an excuse of who will make it to the national team,” said Rodriguez. 

“I’m going to make a report for recommendation of who will make it to the national team, but as what we’ve mentioned already, we’re looking for four more men and four more women to represent the national team.”

Surban, 33, finished the 18.6-kilometer, six-lap cross country race with the time of 1 hour, 22 minutes and 11 seconds, beating Jericho Rivera, who settled for second place at 1:24.30 and Mark Louwel Valderama, who landed at third with 1:25.25 official time.

The race was held in Barangay Sandayong Sur in Danao City.

Ariana Dormitorio also dominated the women’s category of the competition in Danao City on Sunday, June 13. | Contributed photo

Dormitorio, 24, put on a lopsided performance in the women’s elite by clocking in 1:29.50 while Nicole Quiñones came in at 1:42.12. Cebuana cyclist Pamela Jane Ruiz of team  Keith DeFiebre Cycling Team p/b Lún Wheels rounded off the top three at 1:48.25. The women’s elite division featured a 15.5k racecourse with five laps.

Danao City’s top bet, Shagne Yaoyao, did not finish the race due to mechanical bike errors during the race, along with other contenders in Avegail Rombaon, and Tracey Loureen Gabuelo.

Gart Gaerlan of Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro places first in the men junior’s division of the Phiilppine National MTB XCO Championships in Danao City on Sunday, June 13. | Contributed photo

Meanwhile, Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro’s Gart Gaerlan, emerged as the top cyclist in the men’s junior division. He finished the 12.4K (4 laps) race with the time of 1:03.27, beating Marvin Dave Cerilo, who placed second at 1:05.35 and Matthew Symon Quiñones, who salvaged the third spot at 1:07.45. 

On the other hand, Ruiz’s teammate and fellow Cebuana Athena Marie Magpantay topped the women’s junior division at 1:11.11 while Jasmin Philsen Babol trailed her at second place with 1:20.26. Magpantay’s teammate Aliana Therese Velasco completed the top three in the division at 1:24.03. 

Cebuana Athena Marie Magpantay top the women’s junior division of the competition in Danao city. | Contributed photo

Rodriguez added that they would only start their training if there would already be a final decision of the 31st SEA Games to push through with the SEA Games on November 21. This after, reports came out that the biennial meet is planned to be moved to a later date. 

“We will wait if there will be an announcement if the SEA Games will be moved. They say it will be rescheduled, but we will wait because we usually train four months before the SEA Games,” said Rodriguez.

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