Barrios leads age group winners

Barrios

J.R. Barrios led the  age group winners in the road bike division of last Sunday’s first stage of the 2023 Hell of the Marianas series by topping the 40-44 division.

The 40-year-old C&R Corp. employee completed the 35-kilometer course from Banzai Cliff to La Fiesta, to 1-Million Gallon Tank, to Bird Island, and back to Banzai Cliff in 1:20:41.

He was followed in his age group by Rod Gonzales and Fred Remilloza with times of 1:28:04 and 1:43:27, respectively. 

Barrios said the hardest part of the race were the downhill portions because the roads were slippery as it rained before the start of the event. 

In fact, the 40-year-old Davao City, Philippines native said he slipped a couple of times but was fortunate to regain control of his bike. 

Barrios, who only started biking a year ago, said he usually practices from 30 kilometers to 100 kilometers in the runup to big races. 

Reno Academia, meanwhile, was the lone competitor in the below 40 age group and finished the race in 1:38:43. Ditto for Renato Barros in the 50-54 category after crossing the finish line in 1:38:50.

In the 45-49 division, Hernan Cristobal reigned supreme with a time of 1:20:49, followed by Elmer Esdrelon’s 1:22:13 and Harold Balana’s 1:22:18.

Noel Altimirano nipped Bernardo Laborce in the 55-58 division, 1:31:05 to 1:31:39, while not far behind was Nomer Mangalinao in 1:31:49.

Last but not the least, Pax Guevarra topped the 60-and-above  division after clocking in at 1:25:09 with Ponce Corotan and Edgar Abalos following him with times of 1:26:54 and 1:33:21, respectively.

Northern Mariana Islands Cycling Federation official Jay Diyco said a total of 26 bikers took part in the initial offering of the Hell of the Marianas series.

The second part will be on Aug. 20 and will encompass the Suicide Cliff, Bird Island Lookout, Banzai Cliff, and Radar route, while the third and last part will be on Oct. 15 and will start at Radar before going to Suicide Cliff, Bird Islamd Lookout, Banzai Cliff, Suicide Cliff, Bird Island Lookout, Grotto, then returns to Banzai Cliff.

The 2023 Hell of Marianas series concludes with the 100-kilometer 2023 Hell of the Marianas Century Cycle on Dec. 2.

For more information, contact NMI Cycling Federation president Vince Seman at nmicycling@gmail.com.