Riders from Baguio and Benguet have dominated the top 10 in all but two categories in the recently held two-stage mountain bike enduro race in Baraoas Hills in San Fernando City, La Union.
The highland bikers were led by champion Thomas Dean Baday of Sayote Boiz in the 20 to 29 age category who displayed a nail-biting performance, beating the second placer by only a few milliseconds.
He was followed by Mead Dulay of F1 Cycles in fourth place while Sayote Boiz riders Allan Fulo, John Michael Chiday, and Jhubert Bocyag completed the top 10 finishers in seventh, ninth, and 10th place respectively.
RB Ocampo of B-Boys almost made it to the top 10 but finished at 11th in a well-stacked category.
In the 30 to 39 category, Vince Dangiapo of 7Day Adventures/Behind Bars Bikeshop placed sixth among 43 riders followed by Mark Tangan of Behind Bars Bikeshop at seventh place while Jordan Curiman of Sayote Boiz placed ninth.
Jaime Pogdon of Sakkal/Sayote Boiz nearly cracked the top 10 with an 11th place finish.
Previous race champion Jay Camero of Ulrich BFC finished at fifth place while Kline Bayquen of MOOG Controls also cracked the top 10 of the 40 to 49 category with his 10th place finish.
Vrendel Carantes of Team NBT also nearly made the top 10 with his 11th place finish.
In the younger age categories, Vrenj Carantes of Team NBT almost added another championship trophy to his growing collection but settled forsecond place instead.
Willy Esteban of Sayote Boiz placed fifth while Ezekiel Carantes still managed a 10th spot despite having no practice on the race track prior to the race.
In the 14 to 19 category, Wilream Walsi-en of Team MDR placed seventh while Angelo Carantes of Team NBT and Baron Nabus of Sayote Boiz placed seventh and ninth.
In the special category of hardtail bikes, Sayote Boiz rider Lee Steven Cohoy nearly made the podium with a fourth place finish but was all smiles during the awarding since he won one of the grand raffle prizes which was a brand-new MTB frame.
Completing the top 10 at seventh place in the age group was Darylle Cayas of F1 Cycles and Jude Nadera of Sayote Boiz at ninth place.
Overall, highland riders got 19 of the top 10 awards in the event attended by almost 250 riders from Metro Manila, Pangasinan, Ilocos provinces, Bulacan, Pampanga, Benguet and Baguio. – Vince Dangiapo
