RIYADH, 24 March 2005 — The second event in which the competitors were required to defeat gravity was held at the weekend, with the BAE- sponsored Hilly Time Trial around the easier section of the Dirab escarpment. The race requires a combination of time trialling skills coupled with an ability to go up hills as fast as possible.
The Filipino members of the Wheelers are well suited to this, as most are excellent climbers, as once again they filled the top spots with only Rob Patrick spoiling the party.
Assured now of certain championship honors, Jaime Sunga proved he is the man to beat in every discipline as he claimed another victory, a few seconds ahead of Patrick. Missing a few riders away on vacation, allowed Fernando Ranola to take his best placing to date and a podium position.
In fourth, the triathlon club’s hardman Alex Carinan, was just ahead of Edwin Seneres with another multisport exponent, Gary Swinburne just seconds behind.
Top UK coach and current Masters Sprint world champion Geoff Cook added a touch of class to the start sheet and pluckily rode in an event which is far from his specialty. Visiting the Kingdom to coach the Saudi track squad, he admitted to preferring races without hills, such as a velodrome, on which he won his numerous titles.
Seemingly unaffected by last week’s RRR Marathon, an outstanding performance by Paul McParland claimed another course record for the Ulsterman, coming home in 10th place and ahead of fellow mountain bikers Mike Fisher and John Stothart. Club Chairman Paul Tupman, well off the pace complained of dead legs after competing in his first 26 miler.
In the absence of Albino Alpabete and George Morete, Seneres was promoted to the Veterans Cat winner, Patrick secured the Masters title and Cook the Seniors, just ahead of Wheelers stalwart BAE’s Peter Waddell.
No Cat B riders signed on for this event, due in part to Nancy Desanghre and Jacqui White being on international duty. They were proudly flying the Wheelers flag at the world’s biggest one-day event, the Argus Tour in South Africa, which attracts over 35,000 riders. Sunga was presented with the “Best Climber” polka-dot jersey in recognition of his achievement.
Results:
1st J.Sunga 24m51s; 2nd R.Patrick 25m03s; 3rd F.Ranola 26m39s; 4th A.Carinan 27m19s; 5th E.Seneres 27m54s; 6th G.Swinburne 28m07s; 7th H.Rom 28m11s; 8th A.Fabula 28m16s; 9th R.Gocian 28m39s; 10th P.McParland 29m12s; 11th I.Cielto 29m13s; 12th F.Oberlaender 29m38s; 13th G.Cook 29m46s; 14th P.Waddell 30m43s; 15th G.Escobar.
