SRI RACHA, Thailand – The first medal of the Philippines could come in this town north of Pattaya when the 33rd Southeast Asian Games mountain bike downhill run is held on Wednesday morning at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo.
The race begins at 9:30 a.m. with former SEA Games gold medallists John Derick Farr and Lea Denise Belgira entered in the men’s and women’s division respectively, and are joined by Simon Servillon and Naomi Gardoce.
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Farr and Belgira swept the men’s and women’s race, respectively, in 2019 held in Laurel, Batangas. The 29-year-old Farr also copped the bronze medal in 2022 in Hanoi, Vietnam along with Gardoce.
The men’s race will come first in the 1.35-kilometer course.
Farr, more known as 'Jerich' in the cycling community, placed third in the seeding run with a time of two minutes, 48.008 seconds. Defending champion and four-time Asian champion Boonsane Methasit of Thailand placed second in 2:42.550.
Simon Servillon finished fourth in the seeding run with a clocking of 2:49.418, and should also be in the hunt for the medal as well.
“Sa SEA Games ngayon, feeling ko malaki ang chance ng Philippines na maka-medal,” said the Barangay Pilar, Las Pinas native. “Malakas po ‘yung kasama ko ngayon, si Simon. Okay naman practice namin dalawa. Either way, isa sa amin, malakas ‘yung chance na magka-medal. Hopefully, sa final run, maganda ‘yung run namin.”
As for the gold, Farr said anything can happen.
“Dito po, medyo malayo po pero hindi naman po masasabi kasi bilog ang gulong. Malalaman natin bukas kasi depende sa kundisyon ng track, sa kundisyon namin,” said Farr.
Farr described the course as a technical one.
”Parang papagurin ka muna bago dumating sa technical part. Kailangan ma-distribute ‘yung energy kasi papunta sa finish line ‘yung pinaka-critical dahil sobrang haba ng padyakan tapos puro jump pa.”
Meanwhile, Belgira finished fifth in the seeding run with a time of 3:29.642. The 2021 SEA Games silver medalist, Vipavee Deekaballes of Thailand, registered the best time with 3:04.290.
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