Vietnam race: Krog carries Team PH fight

Mathilda Krog rode her guts out in Stage 4 of the 13th Biwase Cup road race on Saturday, leading the charge for Team Philippines in the Vietnam event.

Krog, who figured in a crash that damaged her bike the other day, finished 17th, two minutes and 51 seconds behind stage winner Battriya Chaniporn, who ruled the 110-km stage from Đồng Nai to Bao Lô̂c City in 3:17:58.

Taiwanese Chiu Sheng-Hsin, racing for Vietnamese team Cao Lac Bo Fabro-Dai Loan, had the same time as Chaniporn while Thai Somrat Phetdarin was third, 26 seconds behind.

Kate Yasmin Velasco finished 21st in the stage, close to four minutes behind the winner, followed shortly by Maura de los Reyes, who is racing in a Mixed Team with junior riders from Kazakhstan.

The Philippine team is using the event as preparation for the Southeast Asian Games in May.

Marianne Dacumos was with De los Reyes, while Avegail Rombaon was 28th in the company of Jelsie Sabado, the other Filipino in the Mixed Team.

Thailand’s Thuyen Tai Lam won the day’s team honors with the Philippines finishing more than eight minutes at fifth.