Castro tops Tour De Tinian III

Saipan youth biker Eric Castro this time ruled the Tour De Tinian III after completing last Saturday’s 100-kilometer mountain bike race in 5:03:15.

Erico Castro poses for a photo at the finish line of last Saturday’s Tour De Tinian II at Kammer Beach. (Contributed Photo)

Castro, who was runner-up to fellow Saipan rider Nap Dizon last year, finished way ahead of Dencio Bautista and Cesar Fortaleza in the century race dubbed as the toughest MTB event in Micronesia and held in celebration of San Jose’s fiesta.

Bautista reached the finish/start line at Kammer Beach more than 20 minutes behind Castro, as the former clocked in at 5:27:05. Fortaleza submitted 5:28:12 to round out the Top 3 overall.

Besides his overall first place finish, the 16-year-old Castro also took the top honors in the open division, while Bautista and Fortaleza won the men’s 36 to 45 age group and 46-and-above divisions, respectively.

Bautista prevailed over Tinian’s Charlie Cabreros (5:30:33) and Fernando Cacabelos (6:00:20), while Fortaleza was joined in the Top 3 by Tinian’s Norlo Jacosalem (5:29:27) and Saipan’s Romy Gueverra (5:51:04).

In the women’s division, Tinian’s Kimberlyn King-Hinds was the top finisher after capping the race that brought riders thorough the jungles, single-track courses, and old military roads on Tinian, in 5:28:50. She was the fourth overall finisher and won the close fight in the open division against Saipan’ Kaity Mattos, who logged 5:28:52. Another Saipan rider, Kimiko McKagan, made it to the Top 3 with her 5:30:27.

Other individual finishers in the 100K race were Ian Pascua (5:58:42) and Jay Diyco and Floro Derexes, who registered similar times of (7:24:31). Twelve other bikers, including Dizon, failed to complete the race due to flat tires and other mechanical problems.

Meanwhile, there was also a relay race in last Saturday’s competition with the pair of Richard Asuncio and Rusty Valino timing in at 5:28:34 to beat the tandem of Robert Fajardo and Joseph Cabay, who combined for 5:51:08.

A separate competition for kids also took place last weekend with Matthew Sarmiento, Edgar Acollador II, and Elcy John making the winners list.

Sarmiento topped the boys 5 to 7 division after posting 6:20 in the race around the parking area at Kammer Beach. He won over Edmar Tirona (6:44), Lino Thomas Tenorio (7:49), and Amiel Jacosalem. In the boys 8 to 10 division, Acollador timed in at 5:40 to beat Christopher King Jr. (6:13), Edward Tirona (6:56), Mefi Norich (7:04), and Andre Jacosalem (7:16). John ruled the girls 8 to 10 division with her 7:29 besting the 7:41 of Siena Lazaro and 12:18 of Ceslee John.

Bikers Association of Tinian organized the weekend races, which drew more than 30 riders.