CHUN’AN—Shagne Paula Yaoyao finished eighth and Arian Evangelista fell two laps behind in the women’s cross-country Olympic race of cycling’s mountain bike in the 19th Asian Games on Monday.

“They’re like robots,” was Yaoyao’s reaction to China’s Li Hongfeng and Ma Caixia, who won gold and silver, respectively, finishing the technical race still looking fresh and ready for more as the rest were, simply, spent.

Li won in one hour, 30 minutes and 59 seconds to improve on the silver she clinched in Indonesia five years ago, while Ma crossed six minutes for the silver but with a six-minute gap ahead of bronze medalist Faranak Partoazar of Iran.

Yaoyao wound up seventh in the 15-rider field with a 26-minute gap to Li.

“But I’m happy with my result, I really did my best here and I didn’t expect to land in the top 10,” said Yaoyao, a bronze medalist in MTB’s mixed relay in the Cambodia SEA Games last May.

She competed in the UCI world championships along with Evangelista last month in Scotland but raced in her first Asian Games.

“I cant hardly believe how tough and strong the Chinese were,” said PhilCycling secretary-general Atty. Billy Sumagui. “While the others were visibly exhausted and drained, the Chinese looked like they could go several more laps.”

For Evangelista, it was tough luck—her front tire had reduced pressure and her rear was super flat. She had to run her bike 2 kms to the feed zone to have both replaced thus losing two laps in the event raced over a 4.8-km loop.

She had to be pulled out of the race along with three others, while another three entries were more unfortunate as they ended up DNF or did not finish.

“It was very dry today and there were too many rocks,” said Evangelista of the course.

With MTB done, the country’s campaign—supported by the Philippine Olympic Committee President Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who also heads PhilCycling, and the Philippine Olympic Committee—in cycling reverts to BMX racing with 2014 Incheon Asiad gold medalist Daniel Caluag teaming up with Patrick Coo.

Their event is set for October 1.

After BMX, Ronald Oranza, Jonel Carcueva and Joshua Pascual vie in Road on October 6. (ai/mnm)

Image Courtesy of Shagne Yao Facebook Account

HANGZHOU — Shagne Yaoyao competes in her first Asian Games with the goal of creating a dent alongside the more veteran Ariana Evengalista in women’s crosscountry Olympic of mountain bike on Monday at the Chun’an Jieshou Sports Centre track.

“Besides physical preparations, I prepared myself mentally for the race,” said Yaoyao, who like Evengalista, is coming off a stint in the UCI world championships in Scotland last month.

Yaoyao and Evanglista described the track—a 4.8-km loop with an average lap time of 22 to 25 minutes—as challenging.

“There are several steep climbs and the turns are technical,” said the 25-year-old Cebu pride Yaoyao, bronze medalist in MTB XCO mixed relay at the Cambodia SEA Games last May. “But we’re confident we can fight for a medal here.”

The riders need to complete four laps for a total of 19.2 kms to finish the race.

Evangelista shared Yaoyao’s assessment of the track in Chun’an which is situated 155 kms from Huangzhou.

“It’s challenging and I am aiming to finish the race safe,” said Evangelista, who clinched silver in the MTB XCO-Eliminator also in Cambodia.

The team is coached by Eusebio Quinones and managed by Atty. Billy Sumagui, secretary-general of PhilCycling which is headed by Philippine Olympic Committee president Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.

Only Li Hong Feng among the podium finishers in Indonesia four years ago is back in the Games with the Chinese hoping to improve on her silver medal finish.
A total of 15 riders are vying in the women’s XCO final which starts at 9 a.m.

The PhilCycling also entered three riders in the men’s road race of Road—Cambodia double bronze medalist Ronald Oranza, Jonel Carcueva and Joshua Paccual. Their event is set for October 5. (ai/mnm)