Ormocanons earn big wins in Bike Festival

ORMOC CITY, Philippines – Ormocanon siblings Carmelo and Stanley Martinez surprised the competition by earning top berths in their respective categories in the country's premier mountain bike competition, the Terry Larrazabal Bike Festival held in this city last Sunday.

Carmelo Martinez won the 1.03-kilometer Downhill category (for 20-29 years old), while his brother Stanley placed fourth in the same category's 19 years old below group, which was won by Joelito Calibgos.

Other winners were Eleazar Barba Jr. of Negros Oriental who topped the Downhill Elite, and Jessie Sanchez, for the 30-39 years old, and Eugenio Malabanan for the 40 and above groups in the Downhill category.

Cebuano biker Niño Surban upstaged ten others to win the 21-km. XCO or Cross Country Olympics, followed by Alvin Benosa and Novendane Alejado.

In the Cross Country category, the winners were Arjay Beato (for 14-17 age group), Jayrald Glema (for juniors, 18-23 years old), and Johnny Sevillejo (for seniors, 24-29 years old).

At least 453 participants joined the 2014 TLBF, which kicked off on October 25 in this city, competing in the events, such as National Downhill MBX, National Cross Country, TLBF Cross Country, Enduro and Single Speed, among others.

Composing this year's panel of commissars, who judged the races, were Maximillian Mager and Beatrice Lawaja (international) and Athena Mendoza, Lester Lebumfacil, Arjuna Saulo, Jay Cheng and Parabannes Mendoza (national).

Parabannes Mendoza designed the racecourse for the national races, which Lawaja described as one of "international standard."

Lawyer Gregorio Larrazabal, formerly a Comelec commissioner, founded the TLBF in 2002 in honor of his late father, Emeterio "Terry" Larrazabal Sr., former mayor of Ormoc City.

Larrazabal said there is only one qualifying race for mountain bike racers for the national team, and it is the TLBF.

The TLBF site on Facebook states, "More than trophies and cash prizes, the TLBF this year was focused on showing how Leyte is slowly getting back on its feet."

Another highlight of the TLBF was its being host of the 2014 Philippine National Mountain Bike DH and XCO competitions. This is also the only National MTB Championships registered with the Philippine Cycling Federation and the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale).

"The 2014 Terry Larrazabal Bike Festival is not yet done, and I'm already excited for next year's TLBF," said Larrazabal, as he told The Freeman of a bigger competition next year that will be participated by Asian Games gold medalist for BMX, Daniel Caluag, and bikers from other countries, among others.