Three Cebuanas gear up for grueling Taiwan KoM

Ffrom left to right, Karen Andrea Manayon, Leslie Gitaruelas, and Lovely Gitaruelas. | Photo from Lovely Gitaruelas’s Facebook page

CEBU CITY, Philippines—Three Cebuana cyclists are set to compete in the grueling Taiwan KoM Challenge 2023, which kicks off Friday, October 27, 2023. 

The three Cebuanas joining the prestigious Taiwan race are the  Gitaruelas sisters, Leslie and Lovely, and elite triathlete Karen Andrea Manayon. They will represent Cebu’s GGC Team in the grueling 105-kilometer uphill international cycling race under the women’s 20-age group category. 

All three Cebuana cyclists earned their entry to the international cycling race after winnings in last July’s inaugural “Queen of the Mountain” bike race in Cebu. 

READ: Gitaruelas crowned first Queen of the Mountain champion

Leslie topped that race organized by Sugbo Cycle, while Manayon finished second, and Lovely rounding off the top three finishers in that race. 

This time, they will go up against fellow Filipinas in Jermyn Prado, Angelica Mae Altamarino, and Kim Syrel Bonilla of Team Champbullies, along with Danis Talaba, Kay Anne Laresma, and Luigine Christi Chan. 

The race will traverse the steep mountain road of Wuling Pass in Mounta Hue Huan in Taiwan. The route ascends over 3,275 meters all the way to the summit of Mount Hue Huan.

READ MORE: Karen Manayon: Cebu’s promising triathlete

All three Cebuanas, including their teammates and trainer, flew to Taiwan last October 22 to prepare early and scout the treacherous route. 

Besides these three Cebuanas, another elite cyclist from Cebu, Jonel Carcueva, will also compete in the men’s elite category. 

/bmjo

READ MORE: ‘Queen of the Mountain’ Gitaruelas: I didn’t expect to place first