MANILA – Ariana Dormitorio survived a poor start to rule the third leg of the 2018 Asia Mountain Bike Series – Women Elite Olympic Cross Country in Keningau, Sabah, Malaysia.
The native of Iloilo shrugged off an early crash to maintain her dominance as she finished the 16.8-kilometer race in one hour, two minutes in 22 seconds.
Finishing behind the 22-year-old Dormitorio were Thailand riders Nathalie Panyawan and Siriluck Warapiang.
Dormitorio, who is set to compete in the Asian Games later this month, suffered bruises and cuts after crashing in the first of four-lap race on Sunday.
The leg victory allowed her to solidify her hold of the overall lead in the 10-leg series while earning 30 more UCI points to improve her current 89th ranking in the World MTB Elite Category.
Dormitorio admitted in the radio interview that the minor injury in the opening leg slowed her down and resulted in one of her closest wins in the first three legs of the annual biking event.
“It was very unfortunate. It caused me pain in my right calf. I’m glad I was able to overtake the Thai immediately after getting up,” she told Sports Radio 918.
“I learned a lot from the experience and I will apply it come the Asian Games,” the llongga rider added. “This minor injury will not stop me from representing my country in Asiad.”
In other results, Eleazar Barba finished fourth and John Derrick Farr checked in on fifth in the Men Elite Downhill, while Guimaras native Lea Denise Belgira placed sixth in Women’s Elite Downhill./PN
