Filipina Cyclist Wins Gold in Singapore SEAG

(PNA)–The Philippines has a new golden girl in cycling—and she only took to the demanding sport two years ago and competed in her first international race.

Marella Vania Salamat transformed from a promising bowler to a champion cyclist when pulled off one of the most surprising victories in the 28th Southeast Asian Games on Wednesday by grabbing the women’s individual time trial gold medal of cycling.

And she won the event by almost a kilometer from her closest rival.

Salamat, only 21 and a Dentristry proper sophomore at University of the East, clocked 44 minutes and 46.38 seconds to rule the 30-km event raced over a relatively flat course at the Marina Bay area here.

Thailand’s Chanpeng Nontasin, the 30-year-old time trial gold medal winner and massed start silver medalist in the 2011 Indonesia games, could only finish second, 45.96 seconds behind, which, in the time trials could be equivalent to close to one kilometer distance at top speed.

Singapore Chan Siew Kheng, winner of the gold medal in 2013 in Myamar, also fell victim to Salamat’s impeccable space and finished a far third. She crossed 2:58.53 after Salamat was already cooling down at the team’s tent.

“Nagbunga ang lahat ng pinaghirapan ko,” said Salamat, who was lured to cycling by national coach Cesar Lobramonte one morning in 2013 when she was biking as part of her cross training at the Mall of Asia grounds with her bowling coaches Edward Coo and Orlyn Batistin.

“Kasama na rin ang pagtitiwala sa sarili at sa extensive training naming sa Pilipinas,” added Salamat, the eldest of the brood of three of Engineer and competitive bowler Rodolfo and dentist Marivic Salamat.

“She’s a very strong rider and if given the proper attention, she could go a long, long way,” national team head coach Chris Allison said of Salamat, who along with national teammate Avegail Rombaon, had to race against the men back home to hone for these games.

Salamat’s gold was only the second for the Philippines after Baby Marites Bitbit topped the massed start race in the 2007 games in Nakhon Ratchasima.

It was a different story for Mark John Lexer Galedo.

Galedo failed to retain the men’s time trial gold medal and finished in sixth place, clocking 56:21.59 over the 40-km course.

His teammate, Ronald Oranza, missed the podium with 56:00.34, some 21 seconds behind bronze medalist Trinh Duc Tam (55:39.20) of Vietnam.

“Nawala ang rhythm ko pagdating sa second lap,” said Galedo after the four-lap event. “Naghabol pa rin ako sa last lap at nakuha ko pero malayo na.”

Indonesia’s Robin Manullang won gold in 53:55.41 and Thailand’s Turakit Boonratanathanakorn bagged silver in 54:47.57.

Interestingly, Tonton Susanto remained as the ageless rider on the Indonesian team. The 40-year-old cyclist, who won the event in the 1997 Jakarta games only to lose it to the multi-titled Filipino Victor Espiritu after he failed the drug test, salvaged seventh place (2:31.43 behind).

The criterium races for men (10 am.) and women (9 a.m.) are scheduled on Friday in the same venue. Galedo and Oranza will be leading the men’s campaign with Jerry Aquino Jr., former Asian junior road race champion Rustom Lim, Jan Paul Morales and George Oconer Jr., son of national coach Bert Oconer.

Salamat and Rombaon will race in the women’s division. (PNA) CTB/LOR