Registration for Pre-Hell of the Marianas race opens

Registration is now ongoing for a 50-kilometer bike race that would serve as a warm-up for the Hell of the Marianas, the Northern Mariana Islands Triathlon Federation announced recently.

The fun ride around the spine of Saipan will be held on Oct. 19, covering the distance from Pacific Islands Club to the Radar Tower in Marpi.

Participants can compete with their road bike or their mountain bike. There will be male and female divisions.

From PIC, the bikers will go toward the Francisco C. Ada-Saipan International Airport, turn to Herman Pan Road and Isa Drive, then turn right for a downhill pass to Kagman Road via the Laolao Bay Golf Resort entrance.

They will return for an uphill and downhill passes along Isla Drive then turn to Chalan Talafofo to Kingfisher Golf Links entrance and ascend back to Isla Drive.

Then they finally descend from Capital Hill and turn right to Chalan Pale Arnold toward La Fiesta.

From there, they will turn right onto Mantasa Road in Chalan Matuis toward Radar Tower for the completion of the race.

Registration time for the pre-race of the Hell of the Marianas is set at 5:30am at the PIC parking lot. The send-off time for the riders will be at 6:15am.

Organizers informed all interested participants that they must fill up an application form and forward it by Oct. 15 or submit it personally to the PIC concierge desk.

Tournament rules will allow triathlon bikes, however, the use of tri-bars is prohibited for safety purposes.

Each competitor will sign an agreement and release of liability.

The release is intended to discharge in advance the promoters, the sponsors, promoting clubs, officials and any involved village, municipality, government agency, or other public entities (and their respective agents and employees) from and against any and all liability arising out of or connected in any way with the bikers participation in the race, ride or competition, even though liability may arise out of negligence or carelessness on the part of the person or entities mentioned above.

NMITF’s Kanae Quinn said the bike ride would be free of charge but there will be PIC volunteers tracking every competitor’s time, thus, everyone will make sure that he/she completes the entry form and return to her at the PIC concierge desk.

She is also reminding participants that there would be no available aid stations, so be sure to bring hydration gears or water containers.

Quinn said there would not be any truck returning to PIC. Anyone who don’t want to ride back on his/her bike must arrange their own transportation, she said.

For more information, you may email kanaequinn@yahoo.com or dosm@picsaipan.com.