Estayo tops 1K ITT trials, bags Asiad slot

PROVING he still has what it takes, veteran Nilo Estayo topped the 1-kilometer individual pursuit that kicked off the unified cycling trials at the Amoranto Velodrome in Quezon City yesterday and clinched a slot in the national team competing in the Guangzhou Asian Games in November.
Although lacking training in velodrome racing, Estayo, 35, topped the event in 1 minute, 14.82 seconds, relegating Ronald Gorrantes (1:16.17) and George Oconer (1:16.31) to second and third, respectively. Gorrantes and Oconer also clinched Asiad slots.
"Ito lang kasi ang track oval sa Pilipinas kaya walang ma-ensayuhan nuong magkaruon ng gulo sa cycling. Sana tuloy-tuloy na ang unawaan para hindi na naaapektuhan pati ensayo naming," said Estayo, referring to the poorly-maintained Velodrome.
Gorrantes bounced back in the 4-kilometer ITT event, winning in 5:19.10, nipping Lloyd Lucien Reynante who settled for second. The two, along with youth riders Mark Julius Bonzo and John Mier, who finished third and fourth, will compose the men’s team pursuit squad.
In the women’s 400-meter ITT, April Effynger won in 40.06 seconds, with national rider Maritess Bitbit second in 41.31. Former triathlete Annalisa Dysangco was third in 44.31 seconds. Philippine Olympic Committee official Joey Romasanta, who will be the country’s chief of mission for the Asiad, supervised the trials backed, among others, by Taiwanese electrical company Koten Enterprises.