Buco, Braxton pace Pacific Cup tryouts

Joel Buco was fleetest on two wheels in last Sunday morning’s Oceania Cycling Confederation’s Pacific Cup in Marpi. (Contributed photo)

Joel Buco went nuts in the homestretch to top the tryouts for Oceania Cycling Confederation’s Pacific Cup set for Dec. 10 and 12 in Guam this year.

The 48-year-old The Water Company literally made short work of the 10-mile individual time trial from Banzai Cliff to the Mobil gas station in Tanapag and back to Banzali Cliff in 25:44 last Sunday.

“I’m happy I won because I didn’t expect to win because I haven’t been training lately because of work. I also want to thank God for giving me the strength to take the victory,” he said in Filipino.

The Nueva Ecija, Philippines native also thanked his friend and training partner, Jay Ann Felipe, as well as organizer Northern Mariana Islands Cycling Federation and fellow bike riders for taking part in the early morning mile individual time trial, which coincidentally was his first time to try the format.

He also wished the CNMI’s next generation of cyclists to continue to improve so the islands would be represented well in the off-island events like the inaugural Pacific Cup in Guam.

The up-and-coming cyclists Buco was probably alluding to are the likes of Arvin Velasco, who in this race impressed but still was not enough to beat the veteran rider after the 28-year-old Commonwealth Health Center dialysis technician finished the race in 26:46, good for second.

“Honestly, I wasn’t confident on the time trial as I’m still more comfortable with courses that involve uphill climbs so in a way I’m ecstatic coming in second place, especially I haven’t really been training really. I’ve only been doing fun rides lately,” he said.

Velasco said he’s already looking forward to the Pacific Cup in the neighboring U.S. territory in December. “If there’s chance why not. It would be fun because it’s a new course and also with new competitors.”

Completing the Top 3 in the men’s division was Mark Isip, who come in at 27:16, while fourth place went to Cesar Fortaleza at 28:35. A total of 22 cyclists took part in the individual time trial.

Ayano Braxton was the lone female who took part in last Sunday morning’s Oceania Cycling Confederation’s Pacific Cup in Marpi. (Lao Zhang)

Ayano Braxton was the lone female cyclist to take part in the time trial and she crossed the finish line 16th overall in a time of 31:34.

“I felt good .But would like to practice more before the competition to make sure I’m at my best possible,” she said.

The tryout determined the CNMI’s delegates to the Pacific Cup set in Guam on Dec. 10 and 12, 2021. The Pacific Cup will have a time trial on Dec. 10 and the 105-km road race will be held two days later on Dec. 12.

NMICF’s Jay Diyco said the top male and female finishers in the individual time trial (Buco and Braxton) will get an all-expense paid trip to Guam courtesy of Oceania Cycling Confederation. The rest of the three delegates’ costs going to Guam will be shouldered by the local federation and will be raised through fundraisers.