Every “dogged” has his day

When I started out racing bicycles for fun and competition, I realized right away that I couldn’t climb. Well, I can climb, at my own pace, but not at the pace that I could ride myself with the better riders.

For instance, the first two of the three consecutive years that I joined the Ormoc City Medical Society Road Race, which finished at the top of Milagro, a 13km climb from the city, the finish line was already being brought down when I crossed the line. In the third year, I was midway up the climb when Jocelyn Leonor, who’s husband was in the race, shouted at me that the finish line officials had already left. That’s my climbing resume.

So when the Danao City Vice Mayor’s Cup was announced a month before, I set my sights on the event right away. For my training, I seldom go out and ride, I don’t have the luxury of time these days so spend most of my time on trainers, which I read is more efficient than training on the road. Of course, training out on the road with friends is what the sport is all about but not for me this time.

The first of the two-day, two-event race was the climb to Buak. If you google “Buak,” you won’t find it since it’s a name peculiar only to cyclists. It’s that corner right after La Tegola in Malubog. I finished 10th.In our cat, Jardix Soriba and Rex Tan fisnihed 1st and second, respectively.

The following day was a road race, Danao-Lugo-Danao. It was always at that kilometer climb to Lugo that spelled my doom. I didn’t know most of the riders in cat but it was nice to see Boholano cyclists Dr. Francisco Ngobo, Dodong Alonzo and Roger Torreon joining the event.

As expected, I lost contact on the climb right away. But I felt good so I just rode my pace. I’m not that comfortable going downhill so I just attack it within my limits after the U-turn. I increased my pace on the flats and just after Catmon, I caught the chase group. Jardix was with a 3-man break just ahead of us but I didn’t know that until after the race.

I tired to get away a few times but my companions were good, and their tempo setting tracked me down everytime I drifted away. It was clear now that this would end in a spring so I conserved my energy, really not caring if I was sprinting for a meaningless 10th or 20th place. I started my sprint early and held it by a few inches on the line over Rex.

To my surprise, I placed 4th! Wow! When Mark Ylanan and his crew tallied up the points, I ended up 4th place overall! Wow No. 2! Never in my wildest dreams did I thought that I could get a top 5 finish in a race involving Lugo. We’re entitled to at least one 15-minute worth of fame at least once in our lives.

That’s why I loved the sport of cycling. You don’t have to be the best to get the win. It just takes perseverance, smarts and a little luck to get a great result!

Finally, here’s the top 5 in all categories:

35-UNDER. 1st - Warren Vinan, 2nd - Gino Basirgo, 3rd - Nonito Antigua, 4th - James Kho, 5th - ArjayBeato

36- ABOVE1st -  Amon Espinosa, 2nd - Rogelio Torreon,3rd- DadongCarcueva, 4th - Philip Sainz, 5th-Boy Pagnanawon

FUN cat: 1st-  RodjardSoriba,2nd- CharlonJusay,   3rd - Rex  Tan, 4th – JV Araneta,  5th - Oscar Lao

Ladies, Champion - Nana Abbu