Bohol bikers keep pros 

from sweeping podium

TAGBILARAN CITY, April 6 (PIA)--Two young Boholano road racers defended their pride by barring a-one Cebu professional cyclists from dominating the podium in the below 35 category during the 4th season of the Bohol Black Saturday Individual Time Trial (ITT) and Road Race in Loay March 31.

It could have been a photo finish, but at the speed the main pack of cyclists tore across the finish line, it was nearly impossible to visually pick the winners.

Eight cyclists on aerodynamic spandex and tight jerseys huddled together as a pack and crossed the line together, two hours and three minutes after completing 80 kilometers of grueling road race from Tocdog Dacu to Jagna and back.

The road race, part of the two races on the 4th year of the Loay Black Saturday Race, had 35 below, 36 to 49 and 50 years old categories adopted a point system for individual time trial (ITT) of 18 kilometers and another point system for the 80 kilometer road race.

In the below 35 road race category, Boholano king of the road Adelino Buligan (Paseo de Loon) had on his tails Cebu top rated  triathletes Kristiane Lim (Organique Acai) and Alvin dela Torre (Volvo Multi-Sports) and Jerome Pananganan (Hoopsdome Bikers), while bihol bikers Victor Biongcog (Dagohoy), Kim Bartolata (Paseo de Loon), Archie Enad (Sagbayan Bikers) and Jonathan Pagaura (Paseo de Loon) all crossed the finish line after two hours and three minutes, with only half seconds in difference to be declared top winners.

Buligan finished the road race at 2:03:39, with Lim not half a bike later at 2:03:40 who also pedaled better than dela Torre who capped his day with 2:03:41.

In the same pack was Pananganan at 2:03:42, Bioncog on his tail at 2:03:43 who had Bartolata and Enad a few feet off who earned their race times at 2:03:44.

Paseo de Loon's Pagaura clocked in at 2:03:45 to place eighth.

In the ITT, Lim completed the Loay-Lila loop at 23:59 to earn him 30 points, while Pagaura broke across the finish a minute later at 24:59 with 25 points, followed by Buligan at 26:05 to earn him 22 points.

Lim's team mate Alexander Diaz (Organique Acai) came in at 26:08 to claim 19 points while dela Torre timed in at 26:13 to get 12 points ahead of Wilnor Tuico (Hoopsdome Bikers) who crossed the line at 26:28 and Bioncog at 26:43 to place 7th earning them both 10 points.

Over-all, podium honors went to Lim, Champion, Buligan, 1st placer, Pagaura 2nd placer, dela Torre 3rd Placer, Diaz 4th placer and Bioncog, 5th placer.   

36-49 AGE GROUP CATEGORY

In the road race, Boholano triathlete Nerio Butchie Zamora (TriBohol) showed the way for his age group crossing the finish line at 2:04:52, with Teodorico Tumulak (Hoopsdome Bikers) on his tail crossing in at 2:04:59.

Another Bohol biker of Paseo de Loon Roger Torreon pedaled in at 2:05:05 followed by Lycel Bering (Hoopsdome Bikers) and Rodjard Soriba (Cebu CyclingTeam) each finishing at 2:05:21 and 2:05:22 to win the top five slots. 

In the ITT, TriBohol's Zamora also leaped ahead of co Boholano biker Torreon and Cebuano Bering who each finished the 18 kilometer loop at 25:36, 26:11, and 26:27.

Zamora's team mates Lino Olaivar, Jeffrey Real also came in close to clock in at 26:29 and 26:31 respectively.

Over-all, Zamora came in as the champion with Boholano biker Roger Torreon 1st placer, Lyncel Bering at 2nd, Teodorico Tumulak at 3rd and Lino Olaivar at 4th place.

50 AND ABOVE CATEGORY

For the road race category of the 50 and above, Bikeholic's Francisco Ty and teammate Arnold Espanol  clocked in with JV Araneta (Cebu Cycling) in the top three at 2:21:42, 2:22:03 and 2:23:49.

Lapulapu City's Haylin Bardaje of Hoopsdome Bikers came in at 2:25:17 followed closely by Bohol Biker's Club's Venancio Amora at 2:25:18 to complete the 5 top spots.

In their ITT, Ty came in after 18 kilometers with the time of 26:12, followed by Bardaje at 26:13, then by Espanol at 26:27.

By 27:01 , Bohol Biker's Club's Alejandro Dungog crossed the line tailing Amora at 28:58.

Over-all, Ty came as the race Champion followed by Espanol, 1st placer, Bardaje 2nd Placer, Araneta 3rd place, Bernales 4th and Bogart dela Rosa of Bikeholic at 5th.  

Organizers declared the race very successful and it gathered top road racers in Bohol, which is now claiming the title as an ideal venue for long road races owing to its very well kept and concrete highways with scenic views, rolling terrain and tough climbs if the organizers want routes with hard sections.

Sports tourism is Bohol's newest tourism product and has become a good reason for locals to cash in on tourism and improve their economic status in life. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

Local biker Victor Biongcog (Dagohoy) gives out the best he has in the 35 years old and below to claim the 5th podium finish for the Bohol Black Saturday ITT and Road Race. Another biker Adelino Buligan of Team Paseo de Loon finished as the category champion. In the 36-49, Nerio Butchie Zamora, Roger Torreon and Lino Olaivar also grabbed three podium spots to deny Cebu a full sweep. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)