THE Philippines made a pair of podium finishes at the Siol International Mountainbike Challenge Cup, as Simon Peter Servillon struck gold and teammate Alden Comeros clinched silver in the Men’s Elite Downhill category of the prestigious competition.
Servillon of Canfield Bike and Bike Boy PH delivered a stellar performance on the challenging 980-meter downhill course, clocking an impressive 1 minute and 55.9 seconds. Servillon outpaced 15 other elite riders and finished two seconds ahead of Malaysian contender Tengku Mansor, who settled for silver.
Completing the podium for the Philippines, Comeros of Dartmoon PH secured the bronze medal, finishing just 2.7 seconds behind Servillon. Fellow Filipino riders Gabriel Amigo III (Team Hattons) narrowly missed the podium in fourth place, while Steve Velayo and Hugh De Lansig placed 9th and 11th, respectively, showing depth in the Philippine downhill lineup.
Meanwhile, in the Women’s Elite Cross-Country Olympic (XCO) division, the 18.3-kilometer race was dominated by Indonesia’s Bella Dewi, who showcased endurance and technical skill to claim the top spot. Yui Ishida of Japan earned silver, while Deena Nor Effandy of Malaysia took bronze.
The Philippines’ representatives, Shagne Yaoyao and Nicole Quiñones, put up a strong fight but fell short of the podium, finishing 4th and 5th in a highly competitive field.
The Siol International Mountainbike Challenge Cup is one of the region’s premier MTB events, attracting top riders from across Asia to test their speed, skill, and stamina on technical trails and rugged terrain.
