{"id":313652,"date":"2019-12-09T06:06:02","date_gmt":"2019-12-08T20:06:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=313652"},"modified":"2019-12-09T06:06:02","modified_gmt":"2019-12-08T20:06:02","slug":"australian-pro-wins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/australian-pro-wins\/","title":{"rendered":"Australian pro wins"},"content":{"rendered":"
Australia\u2019s Kevin Biffiger gestures after crossing the finish line at the former Mariana Resort & Spa and winning last Saturday\u2019s Hell of Marianas Century Cycle Race. (Kimberly A. Bautista)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Five pro riders, including pacesetter Edgar Nohales Nieto of Spain, took the wrong turn in the third leg of the 2019 Hell of the Marianas Century Cycle Race, paving the way for the victory of Australia\u2019s Kevin Biffiger in last Saturday\u2019s event.<\/p>\n

Nieto, who took early control of the 100-kilometer race that started at the former Mariana Resort & Spa in Marpi, and the four other members of the lead pack\u2014Genta Konno, Yasumasa Oka, Hei Nok Wong, and Chihiro Naruke\u2014headed left to Isa Drive going to Capital Hill from San Vicente instead of right to Kagman (for the turning point at the entrance of the Laolao Bay Golf & Resort).<\/p>\n

According to Northern Mariana Islands Cycling Federation representatives, Nieto and company missed the Laolao turning point because at the Kagman Mobil, there was a funeral procession and instead of heading into the same direction (Kagman Road), the riders were directed to go straight up Isa Drive, which was the start of the fourth and last leg of the race. The Kagman Road down to turnaround was the final part of the third leg that began in Mobil Gas Station in Koblerville. <\/p>\n

Nieto and the four riders pedaled through Kingfisher, Capitol Hill, and Sadog Tasi, before heading back to the former Mariana Resort & Spa with the Spaniard crossing the finish first between the 2:45:00 and 2:50:00 mark. However, instead of celebrating, a visibly frustrated Nieto approached organizers after he was told of the confusion along the route.<\/p>\n

To make matters worse for the debuting Spaniard and four other bikers, they were disqualified for missing the last part of the third leg of the race.<\/p>\n

The men\u2019s pro crown ended up going to Australia\u2019s Kevin Biffiger, who completed the race in 2:57:02. Slovakia\u2019s Marco Pavlic (3:01:43) and Japan\u2019s Toshiki Nagatsuka (3:15:45) rounded out the Top 3.<\/p>\n

Spain\u2019s Edgar Nohales Nieto, second left, joins the lead pack as they cruise along Beach Road to head south last Saturday during the Hell of Marianas Century Cycle Race. (Roselyn B. Monroyo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the women\u2019s pro division, Guam\u2019s Laura Nadeau came in first after posting 3:27:55 and beating former HOM winner Yasue Nakahara, who submitted 3:36:05 to drop to second place. Australia\u2019s Kylie Adair completed the Top 3 after checking in at 3:36:47. <\/p>\n

Late scare, punishing hills<\/strong>
\nAlthough Biffiger sympathizes with the riders who missed the opportunity to win, he said he did his best and he felt he rightfully earned the win. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a tough race, I trained hard. I\u2019m not really a pro, but I worked hard every day. It was really hard for me but I really enjoyed it. I think it was well deserved. I feel for the guys that missed the turn, but I couldn\u2019t help that. They missed a bit of the course,\u201d the Australian said.<\/p>\n

Biffiger also disclosed that he completed the race despite dropping his chain just before the final climb in Capitol Hill. <\/p>\n

\u201cI dropped my chain. It went between my crank and my frame, so it was quite stuck so I had to stop and work on my chain and it was hard. I probably lost a few minutes. It was just before the last climb so it was quite late into the race, but I was quite lucky to get it fixed,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

When asked about the challenges he faced during the race, he said he was not prepared for the number of hills he encountered in \u201cHell.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cThe race was challenging because I\u2019m not used to the hills. They were quite short so you have a lot of turns and you need to use more power and endurance was much less important, which I was prepared for. I\u2019m the type who can go for longer distances opposed to hills,\u201d Biffiger said. <\/p>\n

\u201cI had to really pace and push myself. [When] I dropped my chain, I had to stop, fix that, and I could see Marco Pavlic coming back from the turn around and I just said \u2018we\u2019ll just see how this goes\u2019, and as we were going uphill, I just kept pacing myself and he just cracked and I kept going,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n

Beauty, safety, and familiarity<\/strong>
\nBiffiger said he will definitely come back if given the opportunity again because despite the challenge that came with the course, the island\u2019s beauty made up for it. <\/p>\n

\u201cI will for sure be back if I get the opportunity. This race was really for you to enjoy the place because when you have a day like today, the place is just magnificent. It was beautiful. It was a tough race, I can\u2019t lie, but the island is beautiful. You drop down Kingfisher and coming back toward the coast, you can see the water and it\u2019s just dreamy,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

While Biffiger was unfamiliar with the challenging course, Nadeau is used to the \u201cHell,\u201d but still approached last Saturday\u2019s race with safety in mind.<\/p>\n

Guam\u2019s Laura Nadeau smiles after completing the 100-kilometer race and topping the women\u2019s pro category. (Kimberly A. Bautista)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI always come into these races with little expectation. My goal really was just to finish safely so I\u2019m happy I finished safely and I\u2019m happy to come in first. Thankfully I didn\u2019t experience any crashes, no injuries. I played it safe because I really just wanted to finish and I knew that some of the descents were steep and when wet, super slippery, so I just played it safe and it went smoothly,\u201d the Guam pro said.<\/p>\n

Nadeau said that the most brutal part of the race was Capitol Hill, where she felt she was going to cramp up, but still she came prepared. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe last climb was brutal. It was hot, I thought my legs were going to cramp up, but I do triathlon so I\u2019m familiar with nutrition and making sure you\u2019re fueled so I made sure I was really fueled for that last climb because I could feel my legs starting to cramp,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

Despite the punishing climbs, Nadeau said her main advantage over her competitors was her being accustomed to the heat as she comes from Guam and does morning rides.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew the island a little bit but I didn\u2019t know of all the hills. I live in Guam so I\u2019m used to the heat and I love the heat so that was definitely an advantage for sure,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n

Nadeau added she prepared for the Hell of Marianas for several months and her hard work and the support he got from her team paid off. <\/p>\n

\u201cI would love to come back next year, Saipan does such a good job putting these races on, it\u2019s so fun so absolutely would love to be back again next year,\u201d she said. \u201cI had a great team from Guam, a couple of guys, and they just helped me so much. They helped me a little with strategy while we were out there so a lot of this goes to them because they helped me out so much and I\u2019m so grateful for their experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"
Bikers head out to the course during last Saturday\u2019s 2019 Hell of the Marianas Century Cycle Race. (Kimberly A. Bautista)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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