Bohol speedsters to defend 

Lead in GFNY encore in Sept 

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, February 9 (PIA)—The next time, we will know how tough Boholano road bikers are, if they could cling on to a commanding performance in the last Gran Fondo New York (GFNY) January 27, for the May 2019 qualifiers to the GFNY in New York. 

Not getting enough of the great routes here, GNFY is coming back this September 22, barely eight months after what organizers would call as one of the most watched races they ever had. 

Thousands of Boholanos, greeted the racers from the roadsides, not getting accustomed to the immensity of the race which was joined by over 400 racers in unmistakable green and black brands of the GFNY from 14 countries and the celebrity status of the international bike marathon now in Bohol. 

GFNY President Lidia Fluhme told Bohol media during a press conference that GFNY came at the invitation of the Department of Tourism’s Tourism Promotions Board through New York tourism attache, Susan del Mundo. 

“Immediately, GFNY came to survey the route last year and immediately fell in love with the place,” Fluhme, who came with the GFNY team saw everything they would need to be in a race venue, easily supplied. 

There is the availability of good roads, great course to excite the riders and perfect accommodation ideal for family destinations, she shared. 

“You see, GFNY is not just about a race, it also is a family thing and racers bring in their families for the vacation,” the former banker and 7-time Ironman Hawaii finisher said. 

Admitting that the first edition of a race would be hardest, Fluhme said those [bikers] who stayed at home then, would have missed a lot. 

For the first edition, GFNY acknowledged the incredible support of Bohol’s local government units, even as she kept mentioning the exceptionally safe course of the race. 

Since January, GFNY have been meeting with Bellevue Hotels and the Bohol Government including Panglao, for another GFNYPh edition this September 22, Sunday. 

Governor Edgar Chatto said Bohol had never had any second thoughts accepting the invitation to host. 

Earlier, Department of Tourism officials have pointed out that a biker who comes in to join a local race, but which is a qualifier for the international race corral in New York in 2020, would be bringing in family as support group and that is where Bohol can cash in on. 

The first GFNYPh which was held in Bohol had Boholanos and Filipinos showing their might and their adaptability to the tropical heat. 

While Philippine flag bearer Arland Macasieb could only make it to 10th place in the Male 40-44 age category, Boholano lawyer and professional triathlete Nerio Zamora II finished first in their age bracket in 4:35.35.600. 

Also, Boholano speedster Jervis Marimon finished second in the Male 18-39, finishing 6th over-all and followed by another Boholano biker Nicho Lumay, who placed second and finished 8th over-all. 

Lumay could have done much better, after leading the break-away in Payahan Baclayon, but had to nurture his bike following a mechanical problem after nearly a hundred kilometers into the race. 

Morris Canda finished 25th over-all and set a race record of 4:55:22.981 to place 5th in the Male 45-49 category. 

Coming in one after another, Boholanos Keith Dinoy (Male 50-54) and Jake Arvin Fudolig (Male 18-39) placed them 4th and 8th in their respective categories. 

Among the most classic finishes by locals is the one pegged by Lino Olaivar (Male 45-49) and Henry Laygo who finished in 10th and 11th in their age brackets and pulling from their slipstream Cris Tabaniag who finished 9th in the Male 18-39 with just milliseconds after the paisanos pegging in a 5:13:15.787 time. 

Also doing great were Val Anthony Uy (Male 18-39) on the 12th spot finishing 48th overall, milliseconds from professional triathlete Macasieb who finished 47th overall. 

Other Boholanos in the top 75 places were 60th overall Victor Galab Jr. (Male 50-54), 63rd overall Francis Ivan Flores (Male 19-39), 64th overall Raymond Uy (Male 18-39), 67th overall Peith Vergil Fudolig, 69th overall Arnold Joseph Fudolig who came in ahead of GFNY’s Uli Fluhme and 73rd over-all John Vincent Mercado. 

There were 219 individuals who took their individual chip timing for the 14o kilometer mass start road race that wound through Bohol’s tourism sites. 

On the 60 kilometer medium race, another 40 road bikers joined, and 16 more joined in the him and her category. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)