PH champion Salamat misses chase for 2nd gold in SEA Games cycling

CYCLIST Marella Vania Salamat holds up the flag after winning a gold medal. RAFFY LERMA

SINGAPORE—Marella Salamat missed her double-gold attempt in cycling during the women’s road race Saturday in the 28th Southeast Asian Games here.

READ: SEA Games: Salamat pedals her way to cycling gold | Salamat geared up for SEA Games by outkicking men

The individual time trial winner finished eighth among 15 riders after a crash near the finish of the 94.9-kilometer race at the Gardens By The Bay slowed her down together with Avegail Rombaon.

“It somehow prevented us from going full speed in the last 350 meters. But I’m thankful I was able to survive the crash,’’ said the 21-year-old dentistry major from University of the East after clocking two hours and 49.47 seconds.

Vietnam’s Thi That Nguyen nosed out Asian Games champion Jatatip Maneephan in a wild sprint for the gold. They both registered 2:49:42 before Malaysian Nurul Zainal checked in for bronze a second later.

Rombaon, Salamat’s training partner the past four months, placed sixth with a similar clocking with Zainal.

Cycling chief and Cavite representative Abraham “Bambol’’ Tolentino said the team would aim for gold Sunday when six Filipino, riders led by three-time Tour champion Mark Galedo and Ronald Oranza, compete in the men’s road race.