Prima-Phl dominates Asean mountain bike

MANILA, Philippines - Team Prima cyclists outplayed their foreign counterparts in their respective categories to rule Series 2 of the 2014 ASEAN Mountain Bike Cup with four gold medals over the weekend at Masilou Highlands in Kundasang, Malaysia.

After winning three gold medals and a bronze in the first leg of the series held in Danao City last June, Team Prima cyclists headed by the father-and-son tandem of Eboy and Jerich Farr emerged winners anew in their respective divisions.

Jerich Farr, 17,  won the gold medal in the downhill junior men’s event win in 4:34.9. At second and third were Malaysian Vui Chung Leong (5:04.3) and Singaporean Mohammad Rasul Abu Akbar (05:05.3).

His father, Eboy, secured the gold in the downhill men’s masters B in 04:47, beating teammate Jing Malabanan (05:28) and Malaysian Rizal Adam Hon (05:29). 

In the XCO junior men’s event, Jake Aldrin Rivera completed the 9.60 km course in 1:22:20 just eight seconds over Malaysian Yuan Swee Tay and another Malaysian, Muhd Nuhr Afzan Abdul Mutalib (1:15:04).

John Michael Mapacpac copped the gold in the XCO Open men’s class, while another Team Prima rider Edmhel John Flores and Filipino John Renee Mier settled for silver and bronze, respectively, in the 14-category event also participated in by Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Great Britain and Germany. 

The Filipinos, representing Team Prima-Isuzu-Specialized Philippines, won four category gold medals and two silver medals. They also brought home the gold in the XCO junior men’s overall and DHI Masters overall and bronze in the DHI Masters overall.

During the first leg of the series held in Danao, Jerich Farr also won the downhill junior men’s event gold, while Eboy Farr topped the downhill masters B and Jake Aldrin Rivera the XCO juniors.

Jing Malabanan settled for bronze in the downhill masters B men’s class and Angelica Limjoco fifth in the XCO elite women’s class.

 Team Prima Cycling is supported by Prima Pasta, Specialized, Dan’s Bikeshop, Joey and Jami Ramirez, OZ Racing, Camelbak, Lightwater, South Cycle, Comet Cycle and Isuzu Philippines.