Buco rules Hell of Marianas

Joel Buco heads back to Mariana Resort & Spa to finish the Hell of the Marianas race yesterday. (Jonathan Ibajan)

Joel Buco led the finishers list in the 2020 Hell of the Marianas to win the men’s road bike category of yesterday’s race.

Buco rounded the 68-kilometer course in 2:19:37, reaching the finish line at the former Mariana Resort & Spa more than three minutes ahead of Nap Dizon, who submitted 2:22:51. Arvin Velasco completed the Top 3 finishers in the men’s road bike division after checking in at 2:24:01.

This year’s Hell of Marianas had a shortened course (instead of the usual 100K distance) due to the COVID-19 pandemic with the more than 50 bikers starting and ending the race at the Mariana Resort & Spa and passing through Mobil Tanapag, 5 Corners (Suicide Cliff, Bird Island, Grotto, Banzai Cliff, Radar Tower), La Fiesta, and 4 Corners (Suicide Cliff, Bird Island, Grotto, and Banzai Cliff).

Meanwhile, the road bike division also featured competitions in various age groups with Fred Remillosa, Jacob Rio, Dennis Baustista, Mark Isip, Robert Tamondong, Virgilio Laxamana, Robyn Spaeth, Shawna Brennfleck, and Yuki Rechucher placing first un their respective categories.

Robyn Spaeth concentrates as she navigates the course in yesterday’s Hell of the Marianas race. (Jonathan Ibajan)

Rechucher won the women’s 40 to 44 division after checking in at 3:08:23. Brennfleck timed in at 2:59:02 to prevail against Kathy Ruszala (3:07:03) and Kerri Bauer (3:10:22) in the 40-and-below age group, while Spaeth was the women’s overall winner after posting 2:46:52, just two seconds ahead of Ayano Braxton (2:46:54) and Kimiko McKagan (2:47:40).

In the men’s 40-and-below division, Remillosa timed in at 2:24:07 to down Ariel John Moses (2:27:41) and Renren Gaviola (2:35:18), while Rio submitted 2:31:36 to edge Edwin Morales (2:40:58) and Elmer Esdrelon (2:46:26) in the 40 to 44 age group.

Dennis Bautista (2:34:24) led the Top 3 finishers in the men’s 45 to 49 division and was joined in the podium by Harold Balana (2:36:19), and Enrique Suba (2:45:33). Isip ruled the 50 to 54 age group after checking in at 2:28:10, while Tyce Mister (2:34:32) and Bernard Laborce (3:01:38) rounded out the Top 3.

Tamondong clinched the top honors in the 55 to 59 age groups after registering 2:29:43, while Floro Derexes (2:46:50) and Roger Valencia (2:49:26) were the runners-up. In the 60-and-anove age group, Laxamana recorded 2:38:30 to down Willy Barbo (2:49:31) and Tony Stearns (2:57:26).