The benefits of cycling include improved cardiovascular fitness, increased joint movement, exposure to sunlight (Vitamin D) to prevent prostate cancer, breast cancer, and osteoporosis, a more active lifestyle, reduced back pain as the large muscles in the back develop and strengthen, stress reduction, stronger immune system, weight loss and most of all, it’s fun.
Saturday’s 100-kilometer (61.2 mile) race begins at PIC’s south parking lot at 6:15 a.m.
Beach Road will be temporarily closed to one lane for the first two miles of the race as the cyclists will ride in a pack to the Chalan Piao intersection, make a U-turn, and navigate the perimeter of the island in three to six hours.
PIC would like to notify all motorists on the Saturday morning to be extremely cautious of cyclists and media vehicles from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on the northbound lane of Isa Drive from San Vicente, Papago, Kagman, and Kingfisher Golf Links to the bottom of Capitol Hill.
There will be orange cones to indicate the bike lane as well as DPS officers and race officials in vehicles. If motorists can circumvent these portions of Isa Drive during the above times, it will prevent heavy traffic congestion and enhance safety for all. For additional safety measure, PIC would like to ask the public to restrain their dogs in the morning along the route.
Another area of motor vehicle safety will be along Beach Road from the Garapan fire station down to PIC as all the cyclists will be following this route to the finish line. Drivers are encouraged to be careful of all the cyclists and kindly yield to them.
The 2010 Hell of the Marianas will host prominent media – Funride and Cyclowired from Japan, Bicycle Life, AB Road, Newsweek, and 1 Power Blogger from Korea, and Gran from Russia – to feature the race in their upcoming issues and showcase the CNMI as an appealing sports tourism destination.
Among the many cyclists expected to compete this Saturday are Australia’s Malcolm Rudolph and Brendan Skerke, Russia’s Konstantin Fast, Korea’s Seo Joon Yong and Choi, Seok Yoon, Japan’s Takahiro Ogasawara, and Guam’s Jazy Garcia.
Saipan riders ‘excited’ for HOM-race
Meanwhile, local riders Mieko Carey and Kanae Quinn are itching to hit the road on race day.
“I’m excited to personally race 100-km this year as I completed the two-person team two years ago, riding 50-km each. I was an organizer and timer for the other years. It’s thrilling to have over 170 racers this year compared to 106 last year. The event has grown tremendously and there are many new local participants,” said Quinn in an email.
“I realize that it’s more mental than physical as with my experiences in triathlons so I hope to be smiling at the finish line!” she added.
Quinn expects the pros to beat the three hour mark and would be happy to finish with in four and a half hours.
The 100-km event is a “special race” for Carey, who noted that she has never done a bike race until the start of HOM.
“I am training hard for this now and I feel I am stronger than last year. Many good riders are coming and it is my big challenge to ride with them,” said the pro triathlete.
Schedule of events
Registration and retrieval of race packets may be done today at PIC’s lobby from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Tomorrow, participants may check in at PIC’s south parking lot from 5:30 a.m. to 6 a.m.
The race begins at 6:15 a.m. with the banquet starting at 1 a.m. in PIC’s Charley’s Cabaret.
“The HOM official cut off time has been extended from six hours to seven hours (1:15 p.m.). There is a new cut off time for the 50-km mark at 3.5 hours at 9:45 a.m. If riders are unable to make it to the radar station by 9:45 a.m., then a race official will disqualify them (individual or team) and ask that they return directly to PIC without finishing the course,” said Kanae Quinn in an email.
Topping last year’s road category in the male and female divisions were Russia’s Alexander Bagenov and Australia’s Amber Halliday, with the former finishing at 3:03:25. Saipan’s very own Gary Bandoja and Maricel Mahlum conquered the mountain age group at 4:01:29 and 5:04:31, respectively. Other winners included Jake and Jackie Vandam (two-person road relay team), Harold Ralang and Romeo Villa (two-person mountain relay team), and team Dog Lovers (four-person relay team).
More than a race
Aside from finish line, riders may participate in the Hell of Marianas’ mini-activities.
In the ‘Fantasy HOM’ event, sheets will be distributed in riders’ bags prior to the race. From there they will have the opportunity of putting their own HOM “TEAM” together, where they predict who will win the race. Players will pick eight riders from the provided list but will not be able to exceed a point cap. Riders are assigned points (fast riders are given high points; first timers are given low points). Results will be announced at the banquet, according to Quinn. Winners do not need to be present.
A ‘devil’ will also be out along the course. Catching up to the devil will earn the winner a $50 cash prize.
A ‘poker run’ game will also take place on four different areas of the course, where PIC staff will hold up a giant playing card. The first 10 riders will call out their numbers (if they choose to play) and a random poker hand will be drawn for them. Best hand wins. Results will be announced at the banquet.
For more information, call 237-5130. (Christian Cruz)
