SEA Games: Mountain biker Arianna Dormitorio denied of sure gold after crash

By Jonas Terrado

LAUREL, Batangas — Arianna Dormitorio lost a chance to win gold after failing to finish the race going into the final lap in the women’s elite cross country mountain bike event of the 30th Southeast Asian Games held here.

Dormitorio had a 58-second lead over eventual winner Thi Nhu Quynh Dinh of Vietnam through three laps when she crashed at one of the sharp curves of the trail known as “Tatlong Bungo” located at Barangay Niyugan in this town.

The accident caused her to lose valuable seconds and allowed the Vietnamese rider to eventually take the lead. Dormitorio fell a second time at another curve and tried to get back on her bike before deciding to call it a day.

Dormitorio battled tears as she was helped back in the players’ area where she was comforted by her teammates.

“During the last part of the tail I had a crash and that caused me to be dizzy,” said Dormitorio. “Of course, knowing that the other competitors are at my back, I didn’t take time to recover.”

Dinh completed the five-lap trail in one hour, 36 minutes and 43 seconds with compatriot Thi Thim Ca placing second, 7:36 behind, to complete a 1-2 finish for Vietnam.

A bit of consolation for the hosts was the bronze medal finish of Avegail Rombaon, who overcame starting from behind to take third with a gap of 12:11.

“Hindi ko po alam yung nangyari kay Arianna at that time, hindi ko rin po alam na running na po ako in third basta po pumadyak lang po ako nang pumadyak,” said Rombaon.

Getting the bronze served as an early birthday present for the Iriga City native who’ll turn 24 on Wednesday.

As for Dormitorio, the setback is something she hopes would result in better things down the road.

“I mean, I don’t wanna let this bring me down,” she said. “This is my first SEA Games and it is held every two years so mabilis naman yung panahon and definitely the next SEA Games I’ll be more prepared.”

Source: Manila Bulletin