PH pros sweep ‘Hell’

The Phippines’ Mark John Lexer Galedo celebrates as he crosses the finish line and win the 11th Hell of the Marianas Century Cycling Race held last Saturday. (Jon Perez)

The Philippines’ Mark John Lexer Galedo shrugged off the challenge put up by a strong field of visiting pro riders to rule the 2017 Hell of the Marianas Century Cycling Race and lead a 1-2-3 finish for the Filipino contingent.

Galedo, who missed last year’s men’s pro title, this time made sure his name would be etched on the perpetual trophy as he completed last Saturday’s 115-kilometer race in 3:15:51, more than four seconds ahead of youngster and fellow PH pro Ronald Lomotos. This year’s edition, which started and ended at the main entrance of the Mariana Resort & Spa, was a bit longer than the original 100K course due to the ongoing road construction along Isa Drive going up Capital Hill.

“It’s hard going to the Bird Island Lookout because of the headwind and the sunlight. I was also careful in trying to pull away since my back tire can’t get enough traction on the road and was slipping,” said Galedo, who was third behind compatriot Jan Paul Morales last year, when asked about the hurdles he had to endure during the race.

Several others echoed Galedo’s sentiments, as the humidity caused by the late Friday night rain and an early Saturday morning drizzle made the road slippery.

But Galedo, being a veteran of International Cycling Union (Union Cycliste International) races, made a gamble as they further went deeper along the course, keeping a safe distance against his compatriots.

The 19-year-old Lomotos, a native of Mangaldan town Pangasinan province, tailed Galedo the entire race, but wasn’t able to move ahead of the 2014 Le Tour de Filipinas overall champion. Lomotos, the 2017 Ronda Pilipinas Best Young Rider recipient and Galedo’s teammate under the Roadbike banner, reached the finish line in 3:15:55.7—six minutes ahead of Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance’s Morales, who clocked in at 3:21:32.

“This is truly ‘Hell’ with the heat and headwind,” Lomotos said moments after crossing the finish line. “It was really tough and I was cautious with my ride since this was my first time to join the race.”

Dan Viel Carino, another Filipino bet riding under 7 Eleven, was two seconds behind Morales at 3:21:34, while 2012 third placer Aleksandr Dorovskikh fell to fifth at 3:24:14.

Morales won the event with the original course of 100K that included the downhill race from Isa Drive in Capital Hill to the flat road of Chalan Pale Arnold. His winning time last year was 3:04:51, while Galedo registered 3:06:18, behind the 3:05:32 of Japanese Makoto Morimoto.

Galedo, Lomotos, and Morales pulled the rug under the Hong Kong riders, who were the early favorites in this year’s race, but their unfamiliarity with the course, the weather, and a couple of technical problems with their bikes booted them out of the Top 5.