GETAFE, Bohol, Oct. 10 (PIA) -- Nearly 200 cyclists on upgraded mountain bikes and road bikes weaved through the zigzag uphill climbs of the Getafe-Danao national highway in this year’s Getafe MTb and Road Bike Challenge: Padyak Kontra sa Pandemya held Oct. 10.

The races, which operated on the condition that minimum health protocols against COVID-19 are followed, opened for mountain bikes in the morning and road bikes in the afternoon.

A total of 128 mountain bike enthusiasts pitted themselves against the climbs that characterize about 70% to 80% of the entire race in the seven race categories: 17 below, 18 to 24 years old, 25-35, 36 to 45, 46 and above, and women’s and fun-ride categories.

Cycling, a non-contact sports, has earned the nod of the Inter Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease knowing that outdoor exercises can bolster the body’s defenses against diseases and the pandemic, said race organizer, Police Officer Adam Maglangit. 

Cross Country MTB 

Going off from a mass start at a kilometer from the Getafe town center on the highway to Danao, mountain cyclists sped off and then swerved off the highway to the trails, which bring them to the scenic ridges of the towns mountains, later to reemerge in the highway, then crossing the Getafe hills to Campao, and then taking the long climbs again to rejoin the Danao highway some 18 kilometers later.

In these trails, seasoned racers drop their lesser competitors off, from less than five kilometers into the race until they rejoin the highway to the sauntering climb to the finish.

The race leaders in each category had to be on their own or with their teams at their disposal. 

After some nearly 60 kilometers of cross country biking, Kahlil Sanchez (Cebu) came in ahead in the under 17 years category, followed by Ryan Calipusan (Talibon) and John Coronel Tubiano (Tagbilaran City).

In the 18-24 years old category, Nicole Joshua Gambe (Sagbayan) crawled to the finish with John Mark Acman (Paseo de Loon/AIWA) on silver and Archie Enad (Sagbayan) picking strong the bronze.

In the 25 to 35 years old category, Nicho Lumay (Paseo de Loon) came ahead of Jeremiah Aguilo and Paul Karlo Cericos (Tagbilaran City).

In the 36 to 45 age group, Jessie Dongkey Sanchez (Cebu) spun to claim top podium, followed by Roger Toreon (Talibon) for silver and Niño Clifford Mellomida (Dagohoy) for the Bronze.

In the 46 and above, Getafe’s Freddie Perez picked gold, Aldrin Adora (Tagbilaran) for silver, and Dennis Lognasin for bronze.

For the women’s category, Vanessa Glee Torreon (Talibon) picked gold, Hanna Sweety Saniel (Sagbayan) silver and Elvira Pajo  for bronze.

The fun ride category had two bikers from Duero in the podium: Junjun Felisco and Arnold Zamora. (RAHC/PIA7 Bohol)