Thai downhill riders dominate

CEBU, Philippines — Riders from Thailand dominated the downhill event of the 24th Asian Mountain Bike Championships and 10th Junior Asian Mountain Bike Championships yesterday at the Barangay Manlayag Patag in Danao City.

Vipavee Deekaballes retained the women's elite crown followed as Chinnapat Sukchanya clinched the men's junior category title.

Deekaballes finished the 1.74-kilometer downhill course in three minutes and 38 seconds. Deekaballes outpaced her teammate Siraphatson Chatkamnded who settled for silver with a time of 3:46 while Indonesian Tiara Andini Prastika with 3:51 occupied the third spot.

Chinese Taipei's Sheng Shan Chiang topped the men’s elite after registering a time of 2:58 followed by   Thai Suebsakun Sukchanya (3:01) and Japanese Kazuki Shimizu (3:06) in second and third place, respectively.

Sukchanya, for his part, zoomed on top in three minutes and 15 seconds. Mike Melson Fung of Malaysia settled for second with a time of 3:47 while Philippines bet Radzmier Salazar, who suffered a shoulder injury after a crash, and Hong Kong's Chun Wa Chan both did not finish the race.

The Philippine team riders were not able to snatch a podium finish from the competition. John Derick Farr (3:10) and Lea Denise Belgira (4:19) finished seventh place overall in the men's and women's elite division, respectively.

Some Pinoy riders weren’t lucky as they suffered setbacks during the event.  One of the country’s bet in the elite class Eleazar JR Barba was taken to the hospital after suffering a broken forearm after a bad fall during his test run.

"Very technical kasi yung race track, very steep yung mga ginawang drops and nagpa-worse pa doon ay yong ulan. Sobrang dulas lalo nung race track,” said Philippine team coach Frederick Farr.

After the downhill action, it’s time for the country’s cross-country riders to showcase their wares today.