MANILA, Aug. 8 -- Filipina cyclist Ariana Thea Patrice Dormitorio displayed her awesome form to win the Cross Country Olympics (XCO) Women Elite category in the second leg of the 2017 Asia Mountain Bike (MTB) Series held recently in Tambunan, Sabah, Malaysia.
The 21-year-old cyclist from Iloilo City finished the 21-kilometer (4.4km x 5 laps) race in 1:25:49 to claim her second leg victory in the Series sanctioned by the International Cycling Union.
Dormitorio, who is currently ranked No. 489 in the world, has been training extensively since winning the first leg of the Series in Yawatahama, Japan last April.
Siti Aisyah Alias of Majlis Sukan Pahang finished second (7:29 behind) followed by Thailand national cyclist Siriluck Warapang (8:25 behind).
Two other Filipinos dominated their respective categories in the 2.4-kilometer Final Run Downhill division.
Eleazar Barba Jr. of Taokas Racing Team ruled the Men's Elite category in 3:58.54 while Muhammad Aim Muhammad Fauzi of SBS Giant Racing Team finished second in 4:07.43. Norshahriel Halzat Ahmad Nazali of AGS Racing/ Selangor was third in 4:15.36.
Eleazar's brother and teammate Wendell Barba clocked 4:34:08 to win the Men's Master A category. Stanly Jalip Jr. of Suzuka checked in second (15:41 behind) followed by Jali Lukas of 88 Bikers Cycling Team (16:76 behind).
Other winners in the Cross Country events were Kazakhstan's Kiril Kazantsev (Men's Elite), Australian Matthew Dinham (Men's Junior), Kazakhstan's Dimitriy Potapenko (Men's Youth), Mohd Azri (Women's Youth), Taiwan's Yu Shuang Yen (Women's Junior), Amir Sharin (Men's Master A) and Nor Effandy Rosli in (Men's Master B).
The Asia MTB Series is among the tournaments sanctioned by the International Cycling Union (UCI) which aims to provide a platform for Asian riders to get UCI points to qualify for the World Championships and the Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, Dormitorio, who is being coached by her father Donjie, is gearing up for her participation in the Under-23 World Championships in Cairns, Australia next month. (PNA)
