The Governor Bong Lacson MTB 5-MAN Team Challenge Inter-LGU Mountain Bike Team Race organized by the Provincial Sports Office on November 26, Saturday provided proof of cycling’s rapidly-growing popularity, where the cities of Bago and Talisay won the Championship Titles in the South and North leg categories, respectively.
Cycling enthusiasts all over the province gathered in the Capitol Lagoon grounds on Saturday to join the Inter-LGU Mountain Bike Team Race. Bago City – Team B was hailed the champion in the South leg category while Bago City – Team A landed in second place. Valladolid – Team A was also in the top three, earning the third-place spot.
For the North leg, Talisay City – Team B emerged as champions, while Bacolod City – team A ranked second, and Silay City – Team A was the third-placer. A total of ten LGUs with two groups from each team participated in the event.
For the Age Group Champions (North Leg), Chris Adrian Veloso of Talisay City – Team B was named the champion in the 13-15 category, and Jethro Camus (Talisay City – Team B) for the 16-19 age group. Benjie Kho, Aries Escardia, and Ernesto Parohinog of Bacolod City – Team A nabbed the championship titles in the 20-29, 30 and Up, and Women or 50 and Up categories respectively.
Bago City – Team B’s Edmark Malunes, Tristan Jude Sibulan, John Jason Callejas, Romnick Bibit, and Jwyn Muyco were named champions in all the five age group categories – 13-15, 16-19, 20-29, 30 and Up, and Women or 50 and Up.
Gun Start was in Talisay City and was led by Provincial Sports Office Head Anthony Carlo Agustin, Race Manager Brian Martir, and Talisay City Executive Assistant Jerome Bagtas. Bikers explored the designated cycling routes in Concepcion, Murcia, and Abuanan.
The awarding ceremony was held at the Murcia Public Plaza with Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose V. Lacson, Agustin, and some Murcia officials present. The champion teams were awarded P15,000 in cash and medals, while the first and second runner-ups received P12,000 and P10,000 cash, respectively.
A consolation prize of P3,000 was awarded to each team and the champions in the age group categories received P1,000 in cash and medals.*
