NINE cyclists represented the CNMI in the Tour de Guam 2021 over the weekend.
They are Cesar Fortaleza, Ravenal “Jojo” Valencia, Nomer Mangalinao, Jay Diyco, Rowena Houck, Marjorie Ganacias, Danilo Ganacias, Ricardo Castro and Wilfredo Barbo.
Of the nine CNMI cyclists, Cesar Fortaleza joined the long course which challenged riders to take on a 102km route. He finished 26th overall with a time of 04:01:00.
The rest of the CNMI team saw action in the 42km course with Normer Mangalinao finishing 41st overall with a time of 01:33:43.
Wilfredo Barbo ended in 42nd place with a time of 01:33:43; Ravenal “Jojo” Valencia finished 48th with a time of 01:38:34; Jay Diyco, 76th at 01:45:26; Marjorie Ganacias, 90th at 01:53:18 and third overall in the female 30-39 age group.
Ricardo Castro finished 98th with a time of 02:00:11 while Danilo Ganacias was 99th with a time of 02:00:12.
In an interview, Jojo Valencia said: “It was a tough race but we had fun! It was the second time we participated in Tour de Guam.”
He said the NMICF joined the race “to show support to our friends and fellow cyclists in Guam and of course the Guam Cycling Federation. They have been very supportive of the NMICF and the Triathlon Association of the CNMI.”
He said the CNMI cyclists’ goal in Tour de Guam was “to have fun and finish the race safely,” so mission accomplished.
Ricky Castro said the CNMI federation wanted to bring “as many CNMI riders as we could to Guam which will do the same when we host Hell of the Marianas.”
He noted that most of the CNMI cyclists who went to Guam were “first timers and new to the course, but all of us wanted to show solidarity with the Guam Cycling Federation, and next time we will have a more competitive contingent.”
The NMICF cyclists at the same time would like to thank NMICF president Vince Seman, Jay Santos, Bridge Capital LLC, Triple J Wholesale and Hertz-Rent-A-Car Guam for their support.
Members of the NMI Cycling Federation pose with Guam Cycling Federation president Eric Tydingco and other cyclists during the Tour de Guam over the weekend.
