SHAGNE Yaoyao of the Philippines continued her impressive climb in the global mountain biking scene, claiming another silver medal at the recent Coupe de Japon Kyoto Yubune, a UCI Class 3 race held in Japan.
The Cebuana rider clocked 51 minutes and 39 seconds, just 50 seconds behind local bet and gold medalist Chihani Kitatsura.
The world No. 95-ranked rider was the only non-Japanese competitor in the 12-woman field, underscoring her serious drive toward a coveted Olympic slot in the MTB Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) event.
Yaoyao’s latest podium is expected to boost her UCI points and world ranking further.
Just last month, Yaoyao bagged a silver medal at the Yawatahama International Cross Country – Asia MTB Series Leg 3 in Ehime City, Japan, a UCI Class 1 event. Ranked No. 103 at the time, she clocked 1 hour, 35 minutes, and 10 seconds in the gruelling 20-kilometer Women’s Elite race, finishing behind Japan’s Urara Kawaguchi and ahead of third-placer Yui Ishida by 1 minute and 23 seconds.
Earlier this year, Yaoyao made waves at the UCI Thailand MTB XCO Cup in Kanchanaburi by clinching another silver in the Women’s Elite category. That result earned her 40 UCI points and catapulted her into the Top 100 of the UCI world rankings within a week.
As of the latest rankings, Yaoyao stands as the third-highest ranked Asian female MTB rider, behind only Bella Dewi of Indonesia (449 points) and Alina Karassyova of Kazakhstan (389 points).
On the national front, the Philippines has also climbed in the UCI MTB Nation Rankings, currently sitting at No. 29 with 815 points, making it the second-highest ranked Asian nation, just behind Kazakhstan (888 points).
