2 returnees, Aussie pros topbill ‘Hell’

Defending champion Joon Yong Seo of Korean will return to Saipan to go for back-to-back men’s division titles in the Annual Hell of Marianas Century Cycle Race set for Dec. 3.

The Korean biker will be defending his championship against fellow “Hell” returnees Konstantin Fast of Russia, Australian pros Matthew Wood and John Anderson, and a bunch of local riders.

Seo was the top finisher’s in last year’s race, completing the 100-kilometer around the island course in 3:02:52.41 and passing the 2009 winning time (3:03:25.88) of Russia’s Alexander Bagenov. The 2010 champion defeated Australia’s Malcolm Rudolph (3:03:52.91) and Asian Games veteran and compatriot Suk Yoon Choi of Korea (3:03:54.06). This year, besides defending the men’s title, the 24-year-old Korean rider aims to break the “Hell” record time of 3:02:22 former Saipan resident, Eli Torgeson, posted in 2008.

Fast, a former member of Italian cycling team G.S. 93 OFZ FAAC Electromatic and was among the favorites when he debuted in the biggest bike race on Saipan, hopes to redeem himself next month after a fourth-place finish (3:03:01.72) last year.

Wood will be a first-timer in next month’s race, but he is a 14-year road veteran and was a member of the Queensland Track National Team for three years (2006 to 2008) and the 2008 Track Pursuit Team.

The 27-year-old biker now races for Cycling Queensland’s Team Budget Forklifts and his impressive resume also includes victories in the 2009 Rockhampton Cup on Wheels and 2009 Townsville Cup on Wheels, stints with a Dutch team competing in road races in Africa, Europe, the U.S., and Asia. The Aussie pro was also crowned champion in the Ambruzzo Cup three times (2006, 2008, 2009) and was named Queensland Cyclist of the Year in 2010.

Anderson’s credentials were as rich as his compatriot. Early this year, he suited up for Britain’s Endura Racing Team and placed fifth in the Australian Individual Time Trial Championships and won the first leg of the Czech Cycling Tour in July.

From Europe, he returned to the Land Down Under and joined the Australian National Team that raced in the Jayco Herald Sun Tour. The 24-year-old pro also raced for an Italian amateur team, the U.S. Fracor, in 2008 and was member of the Australian Pro Continental Squad Team Budget Forklifts in 2009 and topped the Oceania U23 Time Trial Championships, and raced in Belgium, and World Championships in Mendrisio, Switzerland the same year. In 2010, he was runner-up to Cameron Meyer in the Australian Open ITT Championships.

Anderson and other off-island bikers are expected to arrive on Saipan several days before the race kicks off. Registration for the Dec. 3 race is on going and will last only until Nov. 25. Cash prizes will be awarded to the Top 3 finishers in the solo men’s and women’s races.

To register or for more information, contact PIC frontdesk at 237-5148.