INABANGA, Bohol, July 25 (PIA) -- Two downhill bikers from Mindanao proved they can handle the Madlingay Hills trails by lording it over in two age categories in the recent "Ikid sa Inabanga" 2023 pre-fiesta hype.

Team Barba Wangyo Cyclery Nica Brie (WCNB) picked the women’s and the 40 and above category while a Boholano topped the 30-39 category and a Cebuano grabbed the hardtail category during the enduro mountainbike downhill challenge sponsored by the local government unit of Inabanga.

In the shortest time of 2 minutes, 46 seconds and 800 milliseconds, an enduro biker from Mindanao whizzed through the 1.8-kilometer downhill trail complete with 3 drops, 2 mini-kicker jumps, a 10-meter log area, a step-up jump, 2 very steep area descents and pedaling, and off-camber sections to lord it over Ikid sa Inabanga 2023 pre-fiesta hype at the Madlingay Hills of Datag and Liloan Norte. 

Competing in the most competitive under 19 category for full suspension bikes, Ray Gabriel Arat of Iligan City represented Team Hnry and Outbreak Adrenaline Wear came in six seconds ahead of teammate Beboy Ubaub who flew off the last ramp. 

Coming in third was Dirt Industry of Cebu’s Sebastian Chase Yosun in 3:16:210 followed by teammate Lookoochoii at 3:19.110.

Boholanos of Team Trail Seekers Bike Shop Calape and Tribu Tarug Utok (TTU) Jeremy Josol and Kyn Pondoc of North Valley Bikers Cortes staked the 5th and 6th place finishes with 3:24.260 and 3:25.930.

Seventh was Calix Cham Morgia of WCNB Dumaguete at 3:30.680 and 8th was Siquijodon Daryl Albino finishing at 3:32.210.

On 9th place was David Bolt of WCNB Dumaguete at 3:58.310 followed by teammate Julio David Fabugais (WCNB) in 10th place.

Another Alden Comeros (Team Hnry) lit the trails in a spectacular 2:48.050 to claim the top spot in the podium in the 20-29 age category while Kurt Rosales of Team V12 Radgear in Cebu claimed the second top spot and Boholano Altaire Arcay of ARC Bike Care slid into the third podium spot at 3:15.880 and 3:16.790, respectively.

Fourth was Team Diaz’s Jobeth Cansino of Palawan at 3:27.360, 5th was Bohol’s Joshua Auza of Team Bipers at 3:30.790, while sixth was Junil Josol of Calape’s TTU and Trail Seekers Bikeshop.

Seventh in this age bracket was Joshua Anire for Bohol Enduro United at 4:31.130, 8th was Tagbilaran City’s NGAGS Racing Niño Janry Abelgas, and 9th was teammate Mark Dave Guillena at 6:22.640.

In the 30 to 39 age category, Boholano Melvin Torres of BMBU made sure a Boholano gets a top podium slot when he finished the 1.8-kilometer in classy 3:09.800.

Junrell Ceniza of team Bacolod bike doctor came in second with 3:13.180, while another Boholano Vanzie Gubot of Trail Seekers Bike Shop /TTU finished third with 3:34.250, and Syv Millevo of Cebu’s Dirt industry finished fourth at 3:35.380.

Fifth in the age bracket was Jr Gerozaga of Team Joyride Cebu who picked 5 seconds penalty to finish at 3:45.000.

In the 40 and above category, Dumaguete City’s Wndell Barba of Team Barba WCNB recorded a final time of 3:01.300 to claim the championship trophy.

Following him on the second podium spot was Marko Gauna of Team Dirt Industry Cebu with 3:21.360 and Pepo Pasigna of Team Barba occupied the third podium spot at 3:58.800.

Fourth place was Jesse Dagan of Melon Boys Syndicate of Tagbilaran at 4:06.210, 5th was Rey Tamz of BMBU at 6:09.640, and 6th was Mike Geniston of Bohol at 6:10.080.

In the Hardtail Category, Cebuano Jason Shephard Alegado of Dirt Industry  finished the course in 3:15.000 for the top spot, followed by Aldrin Laro of Team Barba WCNB at 3;16.040, and Elrich Elijah Sulueta of ECZ with 3:48.950 for the third podium spot.

On 4th was John Deven Chatto of BASAC 3:50.450 and followed by teammate Michael Racho at 3:57.710 of fifth.

Sixth was Giovanni Inez of SKWAKA Factory of Cebu at 3:58.550; seventh was Caesar Saru of Team Basac at 4:02.550; and eighth was Mark Echavez also of Basac at 4:22.430, while Niño Ray Salas of D Angkols from Jagna finished at 9th with 4:24.040 and Rodel Vale of Los Anas Corella  recorded a 5:18.350 finish.

In the women category, Hannah Barba or WCNB Team Barba pedaled her way to the top spot, finishing the nearly 2 kilometers of dangerous down hill at 3:49.910, followed by teammate Alexa Barba in 4:16.000 while Samantha Rem Yuson of Cebu’s Dirt Industry finished third with 4:21.540.

Mayor Jose Jono Jumamoy thanked every team participant and invited bikers to try the newly jazzed-up park for weekend rides and short spins.

Extreme mountain biking like enduro bike trails are now set up in the Madlingay Hills of Inabanga for its initiative in bringing sports tourism development in these rolling hills. (RAHC/PIA-7 Bohol)