Guimaras lady biker Lea Denise Belgira ruled the women’s category of the PhilCycling Mountain Bike National Trials for Downhill in Barangay Sandayong Sur in Danao City, Cebu.
The Guimarasnon cyclist snatched the gold medal after clocking one minute 29.164 seconds in the 850-meter International Cycling Union-grade course. It was not a surprise since Belgira also won the 2019 Southeast Asian Games gold medal.
During the race, the Guimaras pride defeated Naomi Gardoce who settled for silver and Jade Nicole Baleta who got the bronze.
Meanwhile, topping the men’s side, Eleazar Barba Jr. clocked 1:13.593 to outplay Emmanuel Torregoza Cabalquinto who snatched the silver medal with his 1:15.175.
Jerich Farr, a gold medal winner during the 2019 SEA Games, was slightly off his elements and settled for the bronze medal with a time of 1:15.671.
Other 1-2-3 finishers in the 16-below categories were Gwen Hanah Barba, Samantha Rem Yuson and Alexa Ysabel Barba in women’s and Khim Catalbas, Renselle Abada and Ray Gabriel Arat in men’s
Ending with gold-silver-bronze also were Mark Hector Medenilla, Adrian Nino Villanueva and Wendell Barna in Men Master A; and Frederick Farr, Jonathan Verga and Leopoldo Ocampo in Men Master B.
For PhilCycling chairman Oscar “Boying” Rodriguez, he said they follow the authority of regional health and safety task force against the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.
“Our national athletes proved they are in top shape despite the difficulties in training because of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Rodriguez said. “And we are all happy that MTB is alive despite all the safety protocols.”IMT Sports
