Tolentino, Spaeth top MTB, Road Bike long course

Raymund Tolentino and Robyn Spaeth hung up their running shoes for biking shoes and helmets and took charge in their respective divisions in the long course of the Inaugural Rotary Club of Saipan’s End Polio Cycling Challenge last Saturday morning.

Tolentino sped into the finish line first in the 30-kilometer course in the MTB category with a time of 1:02:06. Second went to Bryan Ytac at 1:02:49, and third place was Butch Sublemente at 1:04:17.

In the women’s division of the Road Bike 30-km course, Spaeth was blown by the strong early morning wind into first place at 58:17. Kimiko McKagan came in a close second with a time of 58:44, and third place was Jay Anne Felipe with 59:26.

In the same division but in the U40 age group, J.C. Ferrer came in at 1:05:52; and in the 40-49 age group, Marjorie Ganacias clocked in at 1:14:07.

In other age categories of the MTB long course of the men’s division, Roy Hernandez was first in the U40 at 1:21:51, and second went to Chris Lucas Esdrelon at 1:30:22.

The 40-49 age category Top 3 was Rosalio Quintos with a time of 1:05:50; just seven seconds off was Hernan Cristobal at 1:50:57; and third was Matthew Fehrenbacker at 1:06:47.

Manny Basa was the lone racer in the 50-59 category and came in at 1:16:50. Pax Guevarra was first in the 60-and-above age category, followed by Danny Banez at 1:18:56.

In the MTB long course women’s division, Beth Kohnen came in at 1:16:50.

Top 3 in the MTB men’s 20k-m short course was Fradel Sedillo at 47:25; Rico Manungay with 51:00; and third was John Jimeno 51:04.

Juanita Fajardo was the lone biker in the MTB women’s 20-km short course and came in at 1:05:46.

In the E-Bike men’s division, Jerry Tan came in first at 54:48; second was Hojin Woo with a time of 54:55; and third was Dindo Pablo at 54:56. In the women’s division, Elna Curate was first in the 50-59 age group at 54:19; second was Christy Villaflor who clocked in at 54:53; and Merlie Tolentino was third at 54:54.

Irish Pagarao was the lone racer in the U40 age group at 54:52; and Melanie Santos was the only biker in the 40-49 with a time of 54:40.

Raymund Tolentino, in a Facebook post after the race, shared that it was his first bike race of the year and said it was a good one. He said he was so happy and had his best ride in the race as he won first place overall in the MTB division.

“I never imagined that this first month of this year, my first bike race, my first ride, my first medal is going to be my very first MTB overall champion[ship]. I’m glad I raced today after the Trinity Run last week. My legs are sore from running three consecutive days and I feel very tired and drained,” said Tolentino.

He gave a shout out to Nap Dizon for guiding and helping him with the race. He said he biked behind Dizon and it helped him “ride smoothly because he was blocking the strong winds. We were able to get to Bird Island and manage to get [past] the uphill elbow going back to Banzai cliff. Surprisingly, I finished it in only one hour.”

He thanked the Rotary Club of Saipan, the participants, the volunteers, and the Department of Public Safety. He also dedicated his win to his family and his coworker, Joey Ramirez Ejercito, who was supposed to join the race as well but was injured recently.

For Spaeth, she said it was a “wonderful” race for a “great cause.” A biker of 10 years now, the lead was a close one against McKagan, and Spaeth said throughout the race, she was just trying not to fall.

Spaeth, who is 40 years old, said, “to be at this age and still race—I’m able to show my kids to live an active and healthy lifestyle.”

Results of the kids course will be posted in the next issues of Saipan Tribune.