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Over 100 bikers expected to join ‘Hell’
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Posted on Nov 05 2019
Bikers get ready at the starting line of the Pre-Hell of Marianas Century Cycle Race last Sunday in Marpi. (Kimberly A. Bautista)
The 2019 Hell of Marianas Century Cycle Race has lured 68 participants so far and the number is expected to go over 100, as local and off-island registrants continue to come in.
According to HOM race co-director Jay Diyco, as of last Sunday, there are about 38 local riders who have signed up for the Dec. 7 event and around 30 off-island registrants.
“We have a lot of off-island bikers who have already registered online. We have roughly around 30, but we’re expecting more. We’re expecting over 100 participants this year, hopefully bigger than the previous race (2017),” he said.
Diyco is encouraging local bikers to join next month’s race and show their support to the biking community and the NMI Cycling Federation.
“They can still participate, we have an online registration,” he said.
Aside from encouraging bikers to register for the biggest bike competition on island, the HOM committee is also asking for the community’s assistance in preparing for the 100-kilometer race. One of the biggest concerns the committee, as well as participating bikers, are the loose dogs and cows.
“When we were going around the island to check the course, we saw a lot of loose dogs and they tend to chase the bikers. Hopefully, the owners can help us by keeping the dogs on a leash or putting them inside a fence for the meantime, until the race is over,” Diyco said.
“We just had a bad experience last month. We had two bikers that crashed into a herd up north and they were hospitalized and right now they can’t join the race. We’re asking the cow owners up north to help us. Please, just for this event,” he added.
This year’s Hell of Marianas will start and end at Mariana Resort with participants going through the scenic spots around the island, including the steep climbs up the northern part of Saipan.
