Entries to Hell of Marianas reach 120

The 2013 Hell of Marianas Century Cycle race has lured 120 bikers so far and organizers are expecting the number to grow next week.

Among the latest entries to the Dec. 7 event are one Olympian and two pros. According to race director Kanae Quinn, Guam Olympian Derek Horton and pros Atsushi Kano of Japan and Jang Jae Youn of Korea registered this week. The 39-year-old Horton represented Guam to the Olympic Games in Sydney, Australia in 2000 and last year in London. Kano is a veteran of bike races in Asia, while Youn is part of the Men’s Health Korea magazine delegation that will also take footages of the 100-kilometer event. Joining Youn are actor Kim Hye Seong, who is also the director of Namoo Entertainment, Lee Seung Gon, and advisor/doctor Yi Jong Seok.

The Japanese and Korean pros and Horton will be racing against two-time men’s champion Jack Anderson of Australia, Hell returnees Konstantin Fast and Aleksandr Dorovskikh of Russia, Japan’s Kazuhiro Yamamoto, and Guam’s Peter Lombard and Jonathan Martin. In the women’s pro field, the list is headed by defending champion and Australia’s Jodie Willet, who will be up against Guam’s Rose Munoz and Mieko Carey, and seven-time XTERRA Saipan champion Renata Bucher.

The pro roster could still grow, as according to Quinn bikers from Taiwan and China are also joining next month’s race for the first time.
Bikers have until this Saturday to register and avail of the discounted entry fees of $60 or $50 (for pre-HOM racers). After Nov. 30, each biker must pay the $85 entry fee. Entry forms and payments can be made at Gold’s Gym Saipan, while registration is available online at http://http//www.activeglobal.com/gl/road-cycling/saipan-northern-mariana-islands/hell-of-the-marianas-century-cycle-2013.

Meanwhile, in a press statement, the organizing Northern Mariana Islands Cycling Federation calls on all motorists to take extra caution on Dec. 7 from 6:30am to 9:30am on the northbound lane of Isa Drive near San Vicente, Papago, Kagman and Capitol Hill, as cyclists are expected to pass these areas in packs.

“There will be cones to indicate the bike lane as well as DPS officers and official media vehicles. If motorists can circumvent these portions of Isa Drive during the above times, it will prevent heavy traffic congestion and enhance safety for all,” NMICF said in the statement.

The race will begin at 6:15am at the Mariana Resort & Spa and for additional safety measures, NMICF is asking the public to restrain their dogs in the morning along the route. Bikers will be heading Pacific Islands Club via Beach Road, passing through Koblerville to the Airport Road, San Vicente, Papago, Laolao Bay Golf Resort’ entrance and back, Kingfisher Golf Links and back, Capitol Hill, top of San Roque’s Radar Station, Suicide Cliff, Bird Island Lookout, and Banzai Cliff before heading back to Mariana Resort.