By Jonas Terrado
John Derick Farr and Lea Denise Belgira claimed gold in the men’s and women’s downhill mountain bike competitions of the 30th Southeast Asian Games held Monday morning at Barangay Niyugan in Laurel, Batangas.
John Derick Farr and Lea Denise Belgira after winning gold in the downhill mountain bike event of the 30th Southeast Asian Games. (Photo from Philcycling)
The 23-year-old Farr ruled the men’s side in two minutes and 41.133 seconds, edging compatriot Eleazar Barba Jr. by 1.360 seconds and Indonesia’s Andy Prayoga by 6.725 seconds.
Belgira, also 23, won the distaff side with a time of 3:09.781 to beat Indonesia’s Tiari Andini Prastika by 7.205 seconds and Thailand’s Vipavee Deekaballes by 7.826.
Their victory made up for the derailed gold medal bids in Sunday’s cross country event that saw Nino Surban settling for silver, Avegail Rombaon getting bronze and favorite Ariana Dormitorio failing to finish the race due to a crash.
The two Filipino riders conquered the 1.5-kilometer trail known as “Tatlong Bungo” to help the Philippines add to its gold medal harvest.
Farr was also the fastest among the eight cyclists who started, posting an average speed of 33.51 kilometers per hour.
Belgira had an average speed of 28.45 km/hour to key her victory.
Pamela Jane Ruiz, the other Filipino rider in the women’s category, finished last with a time of 5:20.773.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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