Timberland King of the Mountain. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines–Gritty Alvin Benosa and Veronica Maglapuz emerged triumphant in the Timberland Heights mountain biking competitions recently at San Mateo, Rizal.
Benosa clocked one hour, 22 minutes and 14 seconds, while Maglapuz timed one hour, 56 minutes and six seconds as they overshadowed more than 300 mountain bikers in the annual flagship sporting event at Filinvest’s 677-hectare master-planned townscape, Timberland Heights.
“The trails are amazing. It was very challenging but I came prepared and I gave my best. I am proud to be this year’s Queen of the Mountain,” Maglapuz said.
Like Benosa, Maglapuz flashed fitness, endurance and determination in becoming the new royalties of the country’s mountain biking.
“It feels really great to be the Timberland King of the Mountain this year. It was a difficult trail but a
very good one too, very challenging. It pushed everyone to the limit,” Benosa said.
Benosa, Maglapuz and the rest of the competitors survived the top-caliber trail compliant with the International Mountain Bike Association (IMBA) trails specification for both safety and technical standards.
With an estimated 700-meter climb in a 25-kilometer distance, bikers had to conquer the steep technical ascent, multiple switch backs, flowy single-track, bermed turns, fast descents, fire roads, rock-gardens and even stream-crossing.