Mountain bike riders add silver, two bronzes

NAKHON RATCHASIMA – Filipino mountain bike riders conquered the Khao Yai Thieng highland for three more medals yesterday.

Eusebio Quinones won the silver while Niño Surban and Maritess Bitbit snared bronzes in the 41km cross country event to follow-up Joey Barba’s gold-medal feat in downhill ride the other day.

The RP riders have produced four medals in three events so far in the 24th SEA Games.

RP cycling officials were actually hoping for another gold but Eric Feliciano, two-time Padyak Pinoy runner-up, failed to deliver, bothered by a sore left ankle he sustained on a spill in practice Wednesday.

Bronze-medal winner in Vietnam and silver medalist the last time in Cebu, the Aliaga, Nueva Ecija pride came in eighth in the punishing ride where seven out of the 22 men starters failed to finish.

Quinones, competing in the SEAG since 1981 with a bronze medal to show in 2005, carried the fight for the Philippines, finishing a little over two minutes behind gold-medal winner Tawatchai Masae of the host country.

Masae clocked 1:59:28 over the course he knows like the back of his hand.

Bitbit relinquished the crown in the ladies event as she was left behind early by Vietnamese teammates Thi Thanh Huyen Nguyen and Nhuyen Thanh Dam who went on to take the gold and silver.

Thi and Nhuyen took turns in their searing attacks, submitting fast times of 1:56.17 and 1:58.44, respectively.

Bitbit now hopes to make up in her three other events – road individual time trial, massed start and track points race.  –Nelson Beltran