NAKHON RATCHASIMA – Among the early birds here, the RP riders now hope their effort to familiarize with the routes and the tracks pay off as the 24th SEA Games cycling competitions fire off with the mountain bike downhill seeding run at the Khao Yai Thieng Hill.
Joey Barba is the defending champion in the downhill ride – one of three events Filipino cyclists won on home turf in 2005.
“Joey is in great shape. He’s doing well in practice and I’m sure he will get a good shot at a title-repeat,” said RP cycling coach Jomel Lorenzo.
The competing riders jockey for positions in today’s seeding run before racing for honors tomorrow.
The RP team doesn’t have a bet in the women’s event. Lorenzo said Barba’s toughest challenge could come from 2005 SEAG bronze medalist Wisit Phuengnoi, a local bet who should be more familiar with the terrain.
Michael Borja, who made it a one-two finish for the RP riders in the 2005 event held in Cebu, didn’t return to vie for another medal.
After the downhill, veteran RP campaigners Eusebio Quinones and Frederick Feliciano and Maritess Bitbit vie for honors in the MTB cross-country Thursday.
Bitbit defends the women’s crown while Feliciano and Quinones hope to improve from their silver and bronze finishes the last time. Quinones is an old warrior, having been competing in the games since the 1991 SEA Games.
Also making up the RP cycling team are Julius Mark Bonzo, Alfie Catalan, Paterno Curtan, Warren Davadilla, Victor Espiritu, Reinhard Gorantes, Ronald Gorantes, Carlo Jazul, Arnold Marcelo, Jan Paul Morales, Steve Pelaez, Lloyd Reynante, Nino Surban, Irish Valenzuela and Apryl Eppinger.
Catalan is another RP rider seeking a title-repeat, being the 4km individual pursuit champion at the Amoranto Velodrome in 2005. - Nelson Beltran