Dormitorio saves Philippines day in ASEAN mountainbike tilt

CEBU, Philippines – Ariana Dormitorio lived up to expectations as she raced with grace under pressure to win the women's elite of the 2015 ASEAN Mountainbike Cup-Round 1, while Hong Kong's Chung Hing Chan was simply fast and smooth on his way to claim the men's crown yesterday at the Manlayag-Patag tracks in Danao City.

Meanwhile, another Hong Kong national in Chun Kin Lai had a double victory via the Philippine leg of the World Cross-country Junior Series and the UCI junior downhill action.

Dormitorio, who debuted in this event by winning the women's juniors plum last year, showed she is indeed ready to race against elites as she beat her opponents by a large margin after dealing the four-lap course of 3.65 kilometers per lap.

Dormitorio finished the race in two hours, 25 minutes and 45.52 seconds followed by another Pinay rider Raquel Joyce del Socorro with the time of 3:09.76.

On the other hand, Chan sped up early on and never looked back to grab the men's elite title. Alvin Benosa of Team Army GroundZero outsmarted  Cebu's homegrown talent to claim the silver medal.

Benosa crossed the finish line at 1:31:47.88, five minutes and 40.96 seconds behind Chan, while Surban finished third in 1:32:23.26.

The other Cebuano top bet in John Rene Mier could only get into 10th place after suffering several spills, while the rest of the top 10 cast were China's Hu Hao (1:38:45.87), Malaysia's Frisco Daniel (1:42:44:33), Phl's Edmhel John Flores (1:50:47.71), Jigo Mendoza (1:52:48.15), and Nicho Lumay (1:53:50.80).

Lai stole part of the show after ruling the Philippine leg of the World Junior Series with the time of 1:54:51.25.

Phl's Robin Ray Derro and Arjay Reato had a 2-3 finish with the time of 2:01:48.91 and 2:18:41.53, respectively.

In the downhill action, Eleazar Barba who posted the best time in the seeding run, continued to sizzle and snare the gold in the men's elite over the more favored John Jerrick Farr. Barba clocked in three minutes and 40.5 seconds.

Farr settled for silver in 3:44.89 as Hong Kong's Ching Shing Li came out third in 3:52:28.

Jerrick' dad and coach, Frederick, however, got the gold in the men's masters B with the time 4:11.82. The returning James Sardea finished second in 4:32.81 followed by Welmer Velayo in 4:43.34. Indonesian Nurwarsito dominated the masters A with the time of 3:47.51.

Meanwhile, Cebuana women junior cyclist Ana Patricia "Ica" Maximo has been denied entry in the UCI-sanctioned tilt due to under age issue.

Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) rules state that Junior riders should be 17-18 years old. Icamax will turn 16 this year. "I was hoping that Cebu Women Junior Cycling be represented in this international competition" said the ykkbikes.com rider.

The SAC awardee is a 4-time medalist in the 2013-2014 Philippine Youth Games Batang Pinoy National Finals. (FREEMAN)