Kinatkatay XC MTB race 

ok’s on-site registration 

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, February 9, (PIA)—Now here’s good news for those who have not registered for the Kinatkatay sa Binabaje, extreme cross country mountain bike (XC MTB) set in the afternoon of February 24, 2019. 

As formal registration has officially closed last February 9, by popular demand, organizers have given in to an onsite registration, but with a catch. 

On date and onsite registrants may not get their complimentary t-shirts and finishers medals right there and then after the race. 

More good news: Kinatkatay co-organizer is organizing a track read on Sunday, February 17 from the race starting coral at The Farm where those who come could join the group leaving at 2:00 PM sharp, According to The Farm manager Venus Dy. 

And, because the race starts at the Farm in Alicia which is over 100 kilometers from Tagbilaran, organizers are giving free bike transport from the Plaza Rizal in front of the old Provincial Capitol in the morning of February 24, race day. The race is set in the afternoon. 

On the extended registration, Alicia Municipal Tourism and race manager Godelia Lumogdang explained: “The usual process is, as soon as we get the registrations, we send out the orders for the jersey and the finisher’s medals.” 

“But due to the requests we are getting, we are reopening up the registration, for those who have yet to get in the list and are still busy in conditioning their bikes and themselves,” she added. 

We now have 40 race registrants and could accommodate with the shirts and finishers medal to about 50, the rest, we will have to order again, that if they register earlier, chances are they can get their shirts and medals on race day, Lumogdang who also happens to be the town information officer intoned. 

A 35 kilometer race that would happen at portions of the trails of the gorgeous Binabaje hills of The Alicia Panoramic Park (TAPP) and past barangay roads, highways and single tracks of some 7 barangays from The Farm in Cambaol and back, the race opens for the Elite, Masters (45 and above), Seniors (31-44), Juniors 30 and below and Beginners categories. 

Organizers, like the previous races are putting up highly visible signage, ribbons and marshals to guide the participants on race day, but even then, The Farm is organizing for route familiarization this Saturday, February 17, 2019, the bikers leaving the Farm at exactly 2:00 PM. 

As the race entails technical climbs and gear crunching sections for the unfamiliar, Kinatkatay veterans suggest a good track read so riders would have a fair idea of which cog sets to put in the rig and if a 26 would be comfortable over the advantageous 29 on the downhill. 

In consideration of the participants from the city and the western Bohol, organizers are putting in a free bike transport which is set to leave from the Tagbilaran City’s Plaza Rizal at 8:00 AM sharp, February 24. Confirm slots on or before February 22 by texting to 09395690432. 

As registration includes a free lunch for the participants, claiming of the meals can also happen upon claiming of the race kits February 24 from 8 AM at the Alicia Municipal Hall, organizers said. 

Now on its fourth year, Kinatkatay’s fame has spread and TAPP trails have been among the holy grails of extreme mountain biking in Bohol. 

Set at Alicia’s premier site developed for tourism, local officials have never thought their idle hills would become a must-conquer site for trail runners and mountain bikers. 

TAPP is also among Bohol’s leading camp site that affords campers the unobstructed view of the panorama that has never failed to amaze the persistent trekker. 

Since the local government opened the trails for races and treks, local communities have cashed in on community tour guiding fees and camping supplies. 

The communities too have started to realize the need to conserve and protect the gorgeous hills and its vegetation as tourists have pointed these out as TAPP’s treasures. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol) 

BONE CRACKING CLIMBS, EXHILIRATING DOWNHILLS. This is what awaits extreme XC mountain bikers in the 4th season of Kinatkatay sa Binabaje set in the afternoon of February 24, from The Farm in Cambaol Alicia, Bohol, some 100 kilometers east of Tagbilaran. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)