2018 UCI National MTB finals blasts off today

Hundreds of mountainbike riders will converge in Danao City to vie for titles in the 2018 UCI National MTB Championships today.

The sporting event, organized by the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines (PhilCycling), will open with the downhill competition today followed by a cross-country Olympic race tomorrow.

PhilCycling vice-president and Danao City Sports Commission Chairman Oscar “Boying” Rodriguez Jr. said the event is good to go, following the city’s hosting of the 24th Asian MTB last May.

This will be Danao City’s third consecutive time to host the national championships in the last five years. The organizers said the national championship is crucial for Filipino cyclists, who are dreaming to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Winners in the national championship will earn UCI points, 100 points for the national elite champion and 40 UCI points for the junior champion.

Expected to compete in the national championships is Cebuano elite rider Nino Surban in the cross-country race.

Filipino elites Edmhel John Flores and Cesar Lapaza Jr. will also be in the fold.

One of the country’s top female riders, Ariana Thea Patrice Dormitorio, will be competing together with teammates Nicole Quiñones and national bet Jericho Rivera. /