Ica Maximo delivers gold for Team Cebu in Batang Pinoy

CEBU, Philippines - Ana Patricia ‘Ica’ Maximo snared the gold medal for Team Cebu City as she dominated the Batang Pinoy Cycling National Finals yesterday in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental.

The 14-year-old Maximo of YKKBikes.com ruled the girl’s division of the road cycling event of the Batang Pinoy with a time of 46:03.04, beating Maia Yusay (48:08.79) and Mikaela Paulina (50:18.20) both from Bacolod City.

The Grade 8 student of Sacred Heart School – Hijas de Jesus managed to control the race by staying at the back then broke away from the field after five kilometers from the start.

"When I made my breakaway I was surprised that the others did not follow so I just continued my effort to cross the finish line first," said the 2013 Phil National Games (PNG) Track Cycling double medalist.

Earlier in the race, her chain got derailed and fell on the road but she recovered in time to rejoin the group. "My knee hurt when I fell. Good thing it was not that serious and I was able to get back to the race," said Maximo.

Icamax is also entered in another cycling event, the Mountain Bike (MTB) Race. "This will be my very first time to use a MTB. I hope it will be another good race for Cebu City," said Icamax who is supported by Fizik, Lake, Marin, Time and WTB.

In the distaff side, Pangasinan bets Emmanuel delos Santos (1:15:59:64), Canlas Malone Jr. (1:15:59:65) and Evans Scott (1:15:59:67) are the top three finishers in the boy’s cycling race. (FREEMAN)