Benosa, Jaroda nail world MTB slots at Nuvali races

Filipino riders Alvin Benosa and Melissa Jane Jaroda finished third in the men’s and women’s races of the Nuvali Dirt Weekend XCM World Series in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, over the weekend and bagged spots in the 2016 World Mountain Bike Championship.

Benosa, racing for BMC Philippines, timed 2 minutes and 21.02 seconds to bag the bronze medal in the men’s division ruled by Honduran Milton Javier Ramos Gomez (Intense Bikes-GoPro) in 2:18.32. Thailand’s Tawatchai Jeeravatchatam (Singha Infinite) placed second in 2:20.38.

Ground Zero mainstay Jaroda clocked 3:14.45 and seized third place in the women’s race topped by Portugal’s Ilda Pereira (Mozinho MTB) in 3:01.15. Indonesia’s Yazid Kusmawati (Jabar Polygon) finished second in 3:06.42.

The first three riders won P46,000, P35,000 and P15,000, in that order.

The races, held at Nuvali’s highly technical course in Sta. Rosa and hosted by GM John Estacio, were officiated by Union Cycliste International (UCI) race director Geoff Kronenburg. Steve Silva, Contributor