Ruiz eyes three-peat, Olmilla back in action
Two-time defending women's champion Lucille Ruiz of Keith De Fiebre Cycling Team trains her sights on a historic three-peat while Joland Olmilla of Team Tri SND Barracuda is back in action hoping to regain his crown in the men's division of the highly-anticipated Consolacion Mountain Bike Duathlon 3.0 starting and ending at SM City-Consolacion on March 3.
Ruiz, a multi-titled biker, ruled the first two editions and now aims to become the first ever grandslam queen of the grueling race that will start with a five-kilometer run followed by a 20km bike over a treacherous and rugged terrains, then finish off with a 3km run.
Ruiz downplays her chances though, saying she's up against a tough field of opposition that includes Marivic Aliser, a police officer who just won a 50km ultra race, and Hannah Bun, a nurse by profesion.
In the battle among the men's elite, the 25-year-old Olmilla makes a comeback with eyes set on reclaiming the throne he won during the event's inaugural season in 2017.
It would be a tall order though for Olmilla as he will go up against a bunch of equally-tough rivals in the mold of Joseph Miller of MotorAce, the country's lone Xterra pro triathlete, last year's third place Metchel Pilapil of Pilapz Boys and Sulpicio Ombay of Team Kombati.
Meanwhile, the organizing Metafit Tri Team led by its founder Alan G. Choachuy announced during a press conference yesterday at Ramen Dojo in Cebu IT Park that only 30 of the limited 300 slots are available.
Those who want to join in the lung-busting tilt backed up by YKK Bikes, Cycle Logic, Missing Link Cycling, Altra shoes, Visual Sense Cataract Center, SM City-Consolacion and Consolacion LGU headed by Mayor Teresa 'Nene' P. Alegado have only until February 16 to register.
Entry fee is pegged at P1,450 for the individual category and P2,900 for the relay.
One may register at YKK Bikes (09157645359), Missing Link Cycling at Robinsons Galleria Cebu (0932-1093633), Cycle Logic- Parkmall (09334821855), or at ALDO/Onitsuka Servitech Northroad Paknaan/Tabok branches (032-4204154).
The race features the male elite and female open categories laced with the 15-18, 19-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35 -39, 40-44, 45-49, and 50-above age groups.
For this year, six special classes have been added, the all-male, all-female and mixed relay, Ebike, Fatbike (3.0 minimum tire size) and the Pamugasay with a pot money of P500.
Aside from the beautifully crafted trophies by Classical Touch and Fizik saddles, the male elite and female open champions will pocket P5,000 each, while the second and third placers will take home P3,000 and P2,000, respectively.
All finishers will receive souvenir shirts and medals.