1st SEA mountain bikefest in Danao

The inaugural Southeast Asian Mountain Bike (MTB) Championships gets going June 9 to 13 in Danao City, Cebu, with riders from at least five countries in the region already confirming their participation.

Mountain bikers from Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei have called in to guarantee their participation in the championships which is one of the major events calendared by the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines or PhilCycling, the national federation for cycling.

International MTB commissaire Oscar "Boying" Durano-Rodriguez Jr., who heads the Sea MTB organizing committee, said he also expects Thailand to confirm its participation this week.

An MTB nationals will also be staged simultaneously with the SEA MTB, which will feature competitions in men and women crosscountry and downhill.

2003 Vietnam Sea Games gold medalist Eusebio Quionones and bronze medal winner Frederick Feliciano head the Philippine campaign in the event which also serves as a prelude to both the Asian MTB Championships which the country is also hosting in September and next year‚s 23rd edition of the Sea Games.

PhilCycling president Bert Lina will be on hand during the championships

Preparations, according to Rodriguez, have shifted to high gear. "We expect a tight competition, not to mention excitement throughout the championships because of the demanding course that is patterned after those that are used for the MTB World Cup," he said.