Mountainbike renaissance in Southeast Asia looms

CEBU, Philippines - The rebirth of mountainbike in Southeast Asian region looms large in the horizon with the staging of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations  Cup on June 13-15 in the treacherous mountains of Danao City.

Although mountainbike is one of the most popular cycling disciplines in the region, no circuit of this kind has been done.

The last ASEAN Cup was held in Brunei Darrusalam five years ago but it was not a series, making the upcoming Danao event a new kind.

During the formal launching of the event at Irie Gastropubliko in Cebu IT Park yesterday, the organizers announced that the initial staging is only a two-leg series instead of four as it takes a lot of time to put up an  “international competition of such magnitude.

The success of this event, however, will be the basis for a bigger and longer series to be sanctioned by no less than the UCI, the world's governing body in cycling.

UCI International mountainbike commissaire Beatrice Lajawa said the funding, initiative and lack of technical expertise hampered the development and promotion of mountainbike in Southeast Asia as compared to road cycling.

But with the right people around this time, Lajawa is confident that mountainbiking will have its rebirth soon.

"There are so many road cycling events in Asia, but very seldom in mountainbike.There is one in Japan, but nothing more. So this is a good time for all Asian countries to do this. We are not here to compete with road races, but to give everybody a chance to join a circuit and have the international exposure," said Lajawa.

The two-part series to be hosted by Philippines and Sabah, Malaysia is not limited to Asians or Asia-based mountainbikers as anyone interested to join are welcome even those who are not part of the national team.

"We saw the need for UCI events and strengthen camaraderie among neighboring countries as well as to our fellow mountainbikers here. This is also to educate riders accross all applicable categories about the UCI regulations and practices and its importance especially in safety," said Athena Beltran-Mendoza, a former Phl downhiller who is now a national mountainbike commissaire.

The kick-off race this June features both the cross-country and downhill events.

The categories to be contested in the cross-country are the men's elite, juniors, masters, women's elite and juniors, men's open (19-above), masters A (30-39) and masters B (40-above). The downhill event will have the men and women's elite, men and women's juniors (17-18), men's open, men's masters A and B.

A points system in each leg will determine the overall champion at the end of the series. (FREEMAN)