Painting the road RED

The first mountain bikes I saw in the early 90’s were both Cannodales and they belonged to PAL’s Nestor Limboy and Titay’s Rosquillo’s Dodong Frasco’s. Both ‘dales had the same model and color- blue. It had horizontal top tubes then, similar to a traditional road bike frame, while today’s MTB’s (and most road bicycles) now have a sloping top tube similar to a BMX frame. I always believed that either Nestor or Dodong had the first MTB’s here. How wrong  I was!

Last Saturday, I read in The Freeman that the mountain bike that made its debut here in Cebu was brought in by two vacationing high school students studying in California 20 years ago. Those teenage kids are now our Tourism Secretary Ace Durano and his younger brother Congressman Red Durano.

I guess you all know that both Durano’s come the very influential Durano family in Danao and since the clan is very much into endurance sports, like marathon and triathon, it’s not surprising that Danao is the hotbed of the MTB in the Philippines.

Even though I raced with the Tourism Secretary and the Congressman a few years ago in Danao, I haven’t seen them in local events. But rather it is their Dad, Danao Mayor Ramonito Durano, who is very active in the local road racing events organized by ReCYCLE. What you will immediately notice about the mayor is that he doesn’t look his age and sports is undeniably one reason for that.

Which brings us to the 1st Red Durano International Road and Mountainbike Championships this coming weekend in Danao. The race will be held in Manlayag, Danao, where a world class course has been around for a while now.

The RP contingent will be led by Nino Surban and Maritess Bibit , the best male and female fat tire rider in the country today. Riders from the neighboring ASEAN countries are also expected to here.

I really hope that the good Congressman would make this event an annual happening. Yes, Cebu needs a race like this one.

Classics Climax

The Liege-Bastogne-Liege (held last night) caps the 2008 Spring Classics.

Last weekends Amstel () Gold race, the only event named after a sponsor (a brewery), was won by Damiano Cunego (LAMPRE), the diminutive Italian who won the Giro d’Italia as a rookie back in 2004. Cunego easily outsprinted Frank Schleck (CSC) in the finale that included a 1500m of very steep climb of the Cauberg, a climb similar to the climb to Marco Polo but done after 255 kms!!!

On Wednesday, in the shorter Fleche Wallone, Kim Kirchen (HIGH ROAD) of Luxemburg  accelerated with less 200m in the final climb (again!) of 1300m of the Huy to drop Australian Cadel Evans (SILENCE-LOTTO). Cunego finished third.

The LBL is the last race of the Spring Classics. My favorite for the LBL is Alejandro Valverde and Cunego. Who’s yours?

Cyclists now will look forward to their next rendezvous in May, the Giro d’Italia. Stay tuned!

Rekla Races

Congratulations to the “By Invite” champions for the month of April: 1- Celing Villarosa- 75pts, 2- Frank Alindao- 60pts, 3- Nanie Quijano- 26pts. Thanks to Dan Wistihuff III and Constancio “Nonoy” Abasola for sponsoring the event.

Titay’s Anniversary Road Race

Two weeks ago, Titay’s Rosquillos CEO Dodong “Gamay” Frasco invited Mark Ylanan and me at the Cebu City Sports Center. Also in attendance was Dodong’s son and Lilo-an Executive Secretary Aljew, assistant Popot (whose family name I forgot) and close friends in the cycling community Sasai Salazar, super mechanic Adan Muana, and Francis Gumos.

The reason for the powwow was the second edition of the Titay’s Rosquillos Anniversary Road Race. Last year was the 100th Anniversary of Titay’s Rosquillos and one of highlights of the celebrations was a bicycle Road and a MTB race.

While Dodong was treating every participant to a sumptuous lunch (Dodong’s humba is the best, thanks to his cook!), he promised out that he’d like to do the race again this year.

While the details of the race could have been tied up over the phone, Dodong, the ever-gracious gentleman, said that we’d have to meet not only to talk about bicycle racing but to catch up on the latest news as we only get to see each other every now and then.