INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines — Former Asian mountain bike king Frederick Feliciano and motocross star Glenn Aguilar bagged the top prizes in the Nuvali Outdoor Adventure Challenge, made more challenging by muddy tracks, in Sta. Rosa City and Calamba, Laguna.

Feliciano overtook March Aleonar in the first 15-kilometer loop to top the 40K cross-country Elite title while Aguilar ruled the Elite Open four-cross race. They won P10,000 each.

The 26-year-old Feliciano, also a former Southeast Asian Games silver medalist, said the soggy course complicated the riders’ strategies.

“There were several ripples,” said Feliciano, a native of Allaga, Nueva Ecija. “It was really a difficult course. I was happy to finally finish it.”

Aleonar, a 23-year-old Army private, said that after holding the lead in the first 15 km, the difficulty of pedaling across wet tracks took its toll on his legs. He settled for the second prize of P7,000.

Another Armyman, Alvin Benosa, placed third and pocketed P5,000 in the two-day dirt bike race staged at the 1,750-hectare Ayala Land Inc. property.

Race organizer and former national mountain bike coach Arjuna Saulo said about 550 bikers took part in the cross-country, four-cross and dirt jump competitions.

Nuvali general manager Jun Bisnar said the overwhelming response prompted them to plan more mountain bike activities on the course in the future.

“Many of those who came to the dirt bike clinics and activities were pleasantly surprised to find a nature haven, complete with all the modern facilities,” he said. Romina S. Austria