PH pro bikers eye return to ‘Hell’

Race coordinators Ricky Castro, partly hidden left, and Jay Diyco together with Nap Dizon push Mark Galedo to the Mariana Resort & Spa pool after the Filipino rider won the 11th Hell of the Marianas Century Cycling Race last Saturday. (Jon Perez)

Expect next year’s Hell of the Marianas to be even tougher after four Filipino riders that finished in the Top 5 in last Saturday’s event vowed to be back for the 12th edition of Micronesia’s toughest race.

Mark John Lexer Galedo ruled this year’s race, beating compatriot Ronald Lomotos and dethroning 2016 champion Jan Paul Morales. Daniel Ven Carino came in at fourth with perennial participant Aleksandr Dorovskikh rounding out the Top 5 finishers. Galedo completed the race, which was 15 kilometers longer than the usual course, in 3:15:51, while Lomotos was just four seconds behind (3:15:55). Morales was almost dislodged at third (3:21:32) with Carino coming in two seconds later (3:21:32). Dorovskikh clocked in at 3:24:14 to round out the Top 5, while Bryan Wong was the top Hong Kong rider at sixth place after registering 3:24:52.

Galedo, the 2014 Le Tour de Filipinas overall champion, said he’ll be ready to return next year to defend his title and put his name again on the perpetual trophy to join other two-time winners John Anderson of Australia and former Saipan resident Eli Torgeson.

“I managed to put some distance in the final four kilometers but [Lomotos] tried to catch me in the final two kilometers. So I gave it my all to win the title,” said Galedo. “I’ll be back next year, I have to defend my title.”

“After the Bird Island Lookout, I checked the other riders in the lead group and I saw that no one was making any move. So, I went ahead and made my move. Slowly I gained some distance from them,” added the 32-year-old rider, who was given the congratulatory toss to the Mariana Resort & Spa pool after his win.

Morales also vowed to be back for the 12th edition of the race. “I have to reclaim my title.”

Even Lomotos, who was ahead of the pack heading down to the Bird Island Lookout before losing the lead to Galedo, said he’ll be returning after enjoying the challenging climbs and downhill rides of the course. Galedo caught up and overtook Lomotos on the steep climb out of Grotto.

Carino, meanwhile, said he is hoping his brother El Joshua could race with him next year. El Joshua was originally scheduled to join the seven-member Philippine delegation to Saipan, but encountered some problems with his travel documents, missing the chance of taking on the lung-busting race.

“Too bad my brother missed this. He would have also loved this race,” Carino said, adding that he chose to ride safe to avoid any crashes in his debut here. “It was fine for me to chase the leaders rather than suffer any crash. The road was a bit slippery so it’s better for me to finish the race without any wounds. For sure I’ll be back next year.”