Banate, Senn Aboitiz Power Tour champs

HE didn’t bring a bike of his own yet but that didn’t stop Jason Banate from emerging as the overall male champion in the 2nd Aboitiz Power Tour of Subic held recently at the Subic Bay Freeport.

Banate—a tricycle driver who represented the Arts, Business and Science Professionals (ABS) Partylist in the two-day bikefest—topped the punishing 90-kilometer road race in two hours, 27 minutes and 28 seconds to make up for an earlier poor showing in the criterium event.

“I’m a mountain biker and I’ve won local races in Batangas, but I don’t really compete in road races so I just borrowed a bike,” Banate, a native of Balayan town, said in Filipino. “I’m still not used to the bike, but when it comes to uphill races, I know I can do it.”

Swiss guest rider Nora Senn, a veteran triathlete, trail runner and ultra-marathoner, captured the overall female title with a time of 2:49:31.

The 22-year-old Banate outclassed by nearly four minutes Ricky Calla of Team Von Dutch (2:30:56) and third-place finisher Robert delos Reyes of VG & E Trading (2:30:56).

Banate’s road race victory more than made up for his woeful 40th place finish in the criterium race where he posted a 55:14 clocking.

In contrast, Senn was consistent all the way as she bagged another gold in the criterium event with a 48:19 performance aside from leading Franzia Ladies to third place, 1:08:50, in the team event.

Team Von Dutch secured the men’s team title with a total time of 4:20:49, followed by Franzia (4:24:29) and Zamba Cycling (4:26:09).

BGC Multisport, powered by the trio of top lady racers Monica Torres, Kim Mangrobang ang LC Langit, nailed the women’s team crown in 1:03:13. Rounding out the winners were PLDT High Speed (1:07:45) and Franzia Ladies (1:08:50).

Neil Confesor of Franzi and Dejan Glavnik also scored victories in the category four road and criterium races of the event organized by Bike King. Jasmine W. Payo