PHILIPPINES UPDATED. The Philippine national cycling team ended their 27th Southeast Asian Games stint in Myanmar with a one-two victory of the Caluag brothers at the Mount Pleasant Cycling Field.
London Olympian Daniel Patrick Caluag topped the morning Men’s BMX Cross trials with a time of 33.097, followed by Indonesia’s Toni Syarifudin with a time of 34.208.
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Older brother Christopher Caluag clocked 34.383 to place 3rd.
The brothers then topped their respective semifinal heats en route to the finals.
Twenty-four year-old Daniel clinched the top spot in heat 1 semifinals by finishing with with 3 points after winning all three runs in the semifinals. He registered a time of 32.784 (R1), 33.032 (R2) and 32.684 (R1); to Indonesia’s Gusti Bagus Saputra’s and Thailand’s Jukrapechwho Wichana who were tied in second with 9 points each.
In the heat 2 of the semifinals, Christopher also topped the pack of 5 bikers by placing 1st in all his runs. He timed 33.677 (R1), 33.150 (R2) and 33.019 (R1) to finish with 3 points. Toni Syarifudin of Indonesia was second in heat 2 semifinals with 6 points – 34.438 (R2) 33.743 (R2) 33.160 (R2).
The Caluag brothers advanced to the final seeded 1st and 2nd, with Daniel being seeded first.
The London Olympian Daniel Caluag then ruled the men’s BMX finals with a time of 31.994, with brother Christopher finishing second with 32.555 seconds.
“It was such an easy race. I had a fantastic performance,” said the 26-year-old Chino, California-based rider who is seeing action in the SEA Games for the first time. “I was in control all the way. This is only a Southeast Asian level and I didn’t have a hard time competing.
“The ultimate goal is to make it back to the Olympics. But, of course, there are some minor bumps along the way like the SEA Games and the Asian Games next year. My mission is to overcome all those tournaments and be stronger, more prepared for 2016.”
The son of a respiratory therapist from Bulacan, Caluag was dominant in the final round, even waiting for his brother to come close while executing a wheelie down the stretch, much to the delight of the small Filipino crowd led by Philippine chief of mission Jeff Tamayo.
He said he waited for his brother in a bid to come up with a rare double-gold-medal finish for Team Philippines.
But the Indonesian rider suddenly emerged, forcing him to leave Christoper and ensure the gold.
“Having a 1-2 finish is just as good as winning two gold medals. My brother and I have been working hard in the States for tournaments like this. Our goal is to get better every day,” he said.
“We’ll be back in the Asian Games next year. Hopefully, win another gold and silver medal again for the Philippines.”
Philippine cycling team has produced 2 gold medals, a silver and 2 bronze medals.
Mark John Galedo won the gold in the Cycling Men’s 50km Individual Road Race, while Ronald Oranza won the bronze in the Men’s 50km Individual Road Race, as well as the men’s road race 163km team of Boots Ryan Cayubit, Jun Rey Navarra, Rustom Lim, Mark John Galedo and Ronald Oranza.
PHILIPPINES UPDATED. Philippines cyclist Mark John Lexer Galedo won a gold medal at the opening day of cycling’s road race competitions in the 27th Southeast Asian Games held in three Burmese cities of Leway, Pyinmanar and Tatkon.
Galedo, cycling in an average of 44.765 km per hour, topped the pack of 17 bikers in the men’s road race 50km individual time trial to win the gold medal with a time of 1:07:00.999 hours. He won the race with 37 seconds lead over Indonesia’s Robin Manullang who finished with 1:07.38.294 hoursRead more: pinoyheadline.com
Compatriot Ronald Oranza finished third with a bronze medal time of 1:07:50.798.
The men’s road race team of Arnold Marcelo, Alfie Catalan, Jan Paul Morales and John Renee Mier will gun for the gold medal in tomorrow’s men’s road race 100km team time trial.
The men’s road race 163km individual trials and team trials are scheduled on the 18th of December.
Cyclists in seeing action in the cross country and down hill events failed to deliver a single medal.
Joey Barba placed only 6th in the Men’s Mountain Bike Down Hill 1.5km finals with a time of 2:29.505. Indonesia won the gold, while Thailand took the silver and bronze. He also finished 8th in the men’s mountain bike down hill 1.5km.
In the Men’s Mountain Bike Cross Country(4km per lap) event, Nino Surban placed 7th (1:38:16), Alvin Benosa finished 8th (1:40:02), Eusebio Quinones was 10th (1:43:01) and March Mc Quinn Aleonar reach the finish line after 1:44:03.
INDONESIA UPDATED. Pebalap sepeda, Hildan Afosma, menyumbangkan satu medali emas Sea Games dari nomor downhill yang berlangsung di Mount Pleasant, Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar, Sabtu lalu.
Hildan mencatat waktu tercepat 2 menit 22,324 detik. Ia mengalahkan catatan waktu pembalap Indonesia lainnya, Purnomo, yang menorehkan waktu 2 menit 22,999 detik.
Sementara, tempat ketiga diraih pembalap Thailand, Seubsakun Sukchanya, dengan catatan waktu 2 menit 24,125 detik.
"Saya tidak menyangka, kirain saya hanya dapat perak," kata Hildan di arena pertandingan, Sabtu, 14 Desember 2013. "Ini seperti mimpi yang menjadi kenyataan."
Hildan mengatakan, trek sepanjang 1,7 kilometer yang harus dilaluinya cukup sulit. Selain sempit, trek juga berdebu. "Jadi lebih licin," katanya.
Torehan emas ini memang mengejutkan karena dua hari lalu ia sempat terjatuh saat latihan dan mengalami luka di lutut kiri dan pinggul. "Saya berusaha terus fokus," ujar dia.
Pelatih sepeda, Karman Sukarman, mengatakan dirinya sebenarnya lebih menjagokan Purnomo dibanding Hildan. "Sebenarnya Hildan lapis kedua tapi dia memang hebat," katanya. tempo.co
INDONESIA UPDATED. Upaya adaptasi lapangan, cabang balap sepeda akan berangkat lebih dulu ke Myanmar, per 1 Desember 2013 dalam persiapan tampil di SEA Games XXVII.
Ini merupakan usaha tim Balap sepeda dalam meraih medali emas, khususnya di nomor road race putra maupun putri. Demikian ditegaskan Staf Cabang Olahraga Terukur Satlak Prima, M Asyik S. Pd di Jakarta, Selasa (29/10/13).
"Atlet balap sepeda khususnya di nomor road race memerlukan latihan penguasaan medan selama tampil di SEA Games XXVII Myanmar Desember mendatang. Melalui penguasaan lapangan yang baik, peluang di nomor road race untuk meraih medali emas akan lebih besar bagi kontingen Indonesia,” jelas M Asyik.
M Asyik melanjutkan, untuk nomor lain seperti BMX, dan sepeda gunung para atlet nasional sudah menguasai medan pertandingan ketika tampil di Pra SEA Games dua bulan lalu. Kendati begitu, semua atlet balap sepeda yang dipromosikan ke multi event dua tahunan ASEAN harus berangkat lebih dulu ke Myanmar. Dengan harapan, beradaptasi lebih awal dengan kondisi suhu dan udara selama tampil dalam pertandingan.Saat atlet nasional tampil dalam pertandingan nanti, suhu di Myamar mencapai 10 derajat celsius. Kondisi seperti itu memerlukan penyesuaian lebih awal. Karena ketika atlet nasional tampil di Pra SEA Games, udara di Myanmar mencapai 30 derajat celsius.
Penurunan suhu dari panas ke dingin katanya, memerlukan penyesuaian lebih lama. Apalagi atlet yang tampil di nomor road race harus mengenal rute atau jalan yang akan ditempuh nantinya. Begitu juga dengan kondisi alam dan jalan yang akan dilalui. Penguasaan seperti itu tidak bisa dengan waktu singkat, namun membutuhkan waktu yang cukup hingga tampil dalam pertandingan.
Ketika disinggung soal atlet yang kini melakukan latihan di Subang Jawa Barat, Asyik melanjutkan, sudah mengalami kemajuan pesat. Semua itu merupakan suatu upaya untuk mewujudkan impiannya yaitu menyuguhkan prestasi optimal bagi Merah-Putih. Sementara kendala yang ada di Pelatnas sudah mulai ditangani PB ISSI yang selalu memberikan dukungannya pada atlet yang diharapkan menyumbang medali emas bagi kontingen Indonesia.
“Anak-anak berangkat lebih dulu agar menyesuaikan dengan suhu udara disana. Sampai sekarang semua atlet yang berada di Subang memperlihatkan kemajuan yang signifikan, saya rasa mereka siap buat menggondol emas,” tambahnya.
INDONESIA UPDATED. Kepala pelatih pemusatan latihan nasional sepeda Wahyudi Hidayat menyatakan para atlet sepeda sudah siap tampil di ajang SEA Games Myanmar Desember nanti. Mengambil tempat pelatnas di tiga kota, yaitu Subang, Lembang, dan Malang, sebanyak 38 pesepeda yang akan turun di SEA Games sudah memiliki kesiapan 90 persen.
"Tinggal melengkapi dari sisi teknis saja," kata Wahyudi, Jumat, 18 Oktober 2013. Salah satu kesiapan itu ialah pengenalan medan pertandingan. Wahyudi menjelaskan, tidak seperti cabang olahraga lainnya yang relatif tidak ada perubahan dari sisi lapangan, arena olahraga sepeda selalu berbeda kondisinya.
Menurut Wahyudi, Pengurus Besar Ikatan Sport Sepeda Indonesia sudah mengantongi solusinya. "Kami akan datang lebih awal ke Myanmar, yaitu sepuluh hari sebelum pembukaan," ucapnya. Proses adaptasi arena pertandingan, lanjut dia, dinilai penting agar para atlet mempunyai kesiapan sebelum berlaga.
Lebih lanjut, dengan sisa waktu sekitar dua bulan menuju SEA Games, PB ISSI tidak akan melakukan uji coba ke luar negeri. Tiga kali uji coba dan satu kali uji tanding di Myanmar selama setahun ini dirasa Wahyudi sudah cukup menjadi bekal bertanding di SEA Games. Dengan menjaga kondisi fisik, Wahyudi berharap para atlet bisa tampil bugar di Myanmar.
National cycling coach Yafiz Jamaludin is ready to embark on the next step of training for his charges in preparation for December's Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
The coach took home a number of positives after last week's Langkawi International Mountain Bike Challenge (LIMBC).
Two of the SEA Games riders, Muhammad Raihaan Abd Aziz and Muhammad Rafiuddin Zikara finished in 32nd and 56th respectively. Muhammad Raihaan completed the competition with a total time of 12:35:56 while Muhammad Rafiuddin crossed the like just one hour behind with a time of 13:37:38.
Mohd Nurjamri Johari who also competed in the race ended with 42nd on 13:14:33.
I'maadi Abd Aziz, Ahmad Rifa'ie Hj Johor, Azmi@Loqman Hadzid and Reduan Yusop are the other four SEA Games riders that moved into Sungai Kebun Sports Complex yesterday for their intensive training.
Yafiz's schedule will see the team stay there till October 30th. The national team will then head to Kundasang, Sabah, for high altitude training from October 30th to December 6th.
The two-month long training will allow the riders to peak just in time for the SEA Games in Myanmar.
Yafiz told The Brunei Times, "After returning from the LIMBC, I have found a lot of weaknesses in my cyclists compared to those from the other top ASEAN countries."
"The ASEAN countries that competed were Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar and Singapore. Our top contenders (in the LIMBC) were Thailand and Indonesia for the ASEAN country rankings," said the coach. "We stayed in the top five for the rankings so I know who our best challengers will be at the SEA Games," added Yafiz.
Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos did not send any of their national cyclists for the LIMBC.
"Even though Vietnam didn't join, I know that they have some strong riders," said Yafiz.
"The other three countries to look out for in the SEA Games are Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia," he added.
Brunei are set to take part in five different events in Myanmar. I'maadi, Muhammad Raihaan and Muhammad Rafiuddin will be taking on the cross country Olympics.
Loqman, I'maadi, Reduan and Ahmad Rifa'ie will take part in the team time trial. Muhammad Raihaan will be the only national rider in the individual team trial. All six riders will enter the individual road race and team road race. .
