Pinay riders waver in Japan tilt

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines failed to make its mark in the Asian Cycling Championships as its ace rider Marella Salamat finished way off the top in the women’s elite road race on Saturday in cold Oshima, Japan.

Salamat covered the 107.1-kilometer race in 3:24:15, which was 6:22 off the winning mark of 3:17:53 posted by Olympian Ah Reum Na of Korea.  Chinese Yixian Pu and Japanese Mayuko Hagiwara took the silver and bronze, respectively, with the same clocking as Ah.

Against Asean rivals, the 22-year-old Salamat was bested by Thai Somrat Phetderin (10th at 3:20:24) and Vietnamese Nguyen Thi That (19th at 3:21:14) and Phan Thi Lieu (21st at 3:24:15).

Salamat earlier placed ninth in the individual time trial, which was ruled by Hagiwara. Reigning Southeast Asian Games ITT ruler Salamat negotiated the 22.4-kilometer course in 36:22.29, nearly four minutes short of the golden effort of Hagiwara (32:25.17).

Over in the women’s juniors division, Phl bet Irish Wong didn’t fare any better.

Wong failed to finish the road race, which was won by Japanese Misuzu Shimoyama (2:13:09).

The 16-year-old Wong earlier wound up eighth and last in the ITT competitions with 21:02.88 in the 11.2K  event dominated by Taiwanese Chang Ting Ting (17:15.3).