Cebuano mountainbike star Niño Surban was victorious in the Men’s Elite class, winning the gold in the PhilCycling National Trials for MTB held on Sunday in Danao.
Surban, a silver medal winner in the men’s cross country event in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, showed his skill and prowess in darting across the highly-technical, three-kilometer track on the tough hills of Sitio Bugho in Barangay Sandayong Sur to win the event in one hour, 22 minutes and 11.21 seconds.
Jericho Rivera took second, finishing two and a half minutes after Surban while Mark Louwel Valderama was more than a minute back for the bronze medal.
Meanwhile, Ariana Dormitorio was dominant in the women’s race as she won gold with a time of 1:29:50.75. Nicole Quinones, who is the daughter of Vietnam 2003 men’s MTB gold medal winner Eusebio Quinones, raced her first women’s Elite race and nabbed the silver with a time of 1:42:12.89. Pamela Jane Ruiz won the bronze in 1:48:25.24.
“Cycling is back,” said PhilCycling head Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino. “It’s more than a year since we have an official and this competition in Danao City marks our sport’s return.”
Health and safety protocols were enforced in the event through the local government of Danao City, the Regional Task Force and the Department of Health.
“The results showed our cyclists stayed in competitive form even during the pandemic. Everyone wanted to return to action,” added Oscar “Boying” Rodriguez, the PhilCycling vice chairman and MTB commission head. He also chairs the Danao City Sports Commission.
Rodriguez and former congressman Ramon “Red” Durano Durano awarded the medals to the winners.
The Ronda Pilipinas was the last to be raced before the pandemic struck in March 2020.
Next up on the PhilCycling calendar is the National Trials For Road on July 9 and 10 in Clark Pampanga. (JNP)