Castro wins Bike for Life debut

Youth biker Erico Castro bested 53 other riders in the 30K race in last Saturday’s Bike for Life to have a winning debut in the fundraising event.

The 13-year-old rider timed in at one hour, 10 minutes, and 24 seconds to beat a bunch of veteran bikers and join the list of Bike for Life winners, which include men’s 50K MTB champion Nap Dizon and 50K road bike top finisher Mieko Carey.

Castro reached the finish line at the southern parking lot of the Pacific Islands Club in San Antonio more than a minute ahead of runner-up Robert Oropesa (1:11:34) and about three minutes faster than third placer Ricky Melchor (1:13:38). It was Castro’s first victory in a long distance race—a big leap from his 15th place finish in last year’s PIC Race for a Cause, which had a similar route.

Castro and other 30K bikers started the race at PIC and then went to the airport road, headed up to San Vicente, went down Capital Hill, and then back to PIC through Beach Road.

In the women’s division, Bike for Life veteran Kimiko Hasegawa crossed the finished line first at the 1:27:57 mark. Joanna Salazar was the second female finisher in the MTB race of the 30K, clocking in at 1:30:15.

A couple of riders in their road bikes also joined the shorter race last weekend with another youth participant—Kaisei Toda—becoming the top finisher in his field. The 12-year-old Toda submitted 1:15:51 and placed seventh overall among 54 riders. Daniel Calvo was the second road bike finisher at 1:16:28, while Romeo Lanuza Jr. came in at third with his 1:22:55.

In the 50K race MTB division, Dizon snapped Butch Sublemente’s winning streak.

Dizon completed the longer race in 1:40:28, more than two minutes ahead of Sublemente (1:42:50). Sublemente ruled the Bike for Life race in April this year, clocking in at 2:00:21 against Dizon’s 2:00:34 and the latter also won several local events, while Dizon either finished second or third before stepping up last weekend.

Sublemente said he could not pull away from the pack as he had problems with his tires while negotiating the slippery road in Talafofo (road leading to Kingfisher Golf Links).

The 50K course had the same starting line and route, but before heading down Capital Hill, riders went to Kagman first and then the Kingfisher Golf Links.

Anthony Aguilar joined Dizon and Sublemente in the Top 3, as the former logged 1:55:17. Fourteen other bikers joined the 50K MTB race.

In the 50K road bike race, Carey recorded 1:37:25 to rule the 14-biker field. In second place and losing to Carey in a neck-and-neck finish was Lewie Tenorio (1:37:26). Willy Barbo rounded out the Top 3, timing in at 1:45:45.

The series of Bike for Life races is organized by PIC’s Food and Beverage department to raise funds for cancer victims. Last weekend’s race drew more than 100 bikers.