Group eyes 200 for mountain bike race

SOME 200 riders are expected to join the Cebu Challenge Mountain bike race on Nov. 18.

This was disclosed yesterday by over-all organizer David S. Odilao Jr. during a press conference together with race director Joe Deresas and the Cebu Unified Eagles President Berth Alvarado.

The race will cover two stages in one day—a 70-kilometer race from Talisay City toward Tuburan via Balamban, Toledo and Pinamungajan and another 70-kilometer race from Tuburan to Talisay via Media Onse.

“We are expecting each stage will cover almost two hours because mountain bike racing is different from road race biking. We won’t allow road bikes in this race. This will be the first time that we are going to use just mountain bikes during a race,” Odilao Jr. said.

The race will have five categories—open elite, juniors, seniors, executive, fat bikers and women’s open.

The organizers are expecting Cebu’s top mountain biker Niño Surban, who just arrived from Lebanon, as well as Marites Bitbit, to join the event.

However, according to Surban, he is still contemplating whether to join the race because he is planning to join one in India next month.

Aside from the P5,000 cash prize for the top rider in the elite open category, there will be an additional P10,000 if one rider sweeps the two stages. The extra prize will be funded by the Cebu Unified Eagles and the Tropang Guardians.

Registration is at P300 and riders may sign up at at Chopstick Chinese Casual in Shopwise, Edfil Restaurant, Citi Center and Cycle Logic in Parkmall.