International mountain bike series up at Danao

MANILA, Philippines - The 2015 ASEAN Cup Mountain Bike Series gets going this weekend with Danao City, considered as the MTB capital of the Philippines, hosting not only the country’s top riders but the region’s best, including China and Hong Kong, in its International Cycling Union (UCI)-standard crosscountry and downhill courses.

Organized by UCI MTB international commissaire Oscar Rodriguez, also the technical commission head of the PhilCycling, the event will be held over a 4.2-kilometer crosscountry course and a 2-km downhill course where the riders will be flagging off from a 284-meter high ramp.

Heading the Philippine campaign in the Elite category are national team members Eleazar Barba (downhill), Jigo Mendoza (crosscountry), John Mier (crosscountry), Ariana Dormitorio (crosscountry-women), and Avigail Rumbao (crosscountry-women) and former nationals Eboy Quiñones, Alvin Benosa and Niño Surban.

The race is made possible with the help of Danao City Mayor Ramonito Durano III, Vice Mayor Red Durano and Councilor Jed Almendras, Rep. Ace Durano (fifth district,  Cebu), Gov. Junjun Davide, Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale and board members Migs Magpale, Jude Sybico, and Ivy Durano-Meca throwing in their support.

A 10-member team from Hong Kong is vying in the race. Although Hong Kong is not an ASEAN members, its cyclists are joining the Elite category to earn UCI points.

China and Malaysia is sending its juniors crosscountry riders who will challenge the Philippines’ Jake Aldrin Rivera, fifth-placer in last year’s Asian MTB Junior Championships in Lubuk Linggao, Indonesia.

2014 Asian MTB Championships bronze medalist Jerich Farr of the Philippines is expected to face stiff challenge from Singaporean, Malaysian and Indonesian cyclists in the event presented by Air21, Greenhills Farms, Aduna, AppleOne Banawa Heights, Specialized and Rudy Project.