ALAMADA, North Cotabato, July 27 (PNA) – As the province of North Cotabato prepares for its centennial celebration on September 1, a Mindanao-wide bike contest was held Saturday that also showed one of the country’s tourist attractions – the famous Asik-Asik falls in this town.
Jimmy Sta Cruz of the North Cotabato provincial media center said in a statement that tough bikers from all over Mindanao gathered early Saturday to compete in the 75-kilometer mountain bike challenge from the town of Aleosan to the Asik-Asik Falls in Alamada, Cotabato.
He said the bike contest, dubbed as “The Centennial Eco-Tourism Mountain Bike Fun Ride 2014” started with a “big bang” with basically mountain biking enthusiasts – both veterans and amateurs in attendance.
The mountain bike challenge is the second salvo of the series of sports and cultural events for the “Kalivungan” Festival and the 100th founding anniversary of the Province of Cotabato this year with the Gov. Lala Taliño-Mendoza Mindanao Open Taekwondo Competition held last July 5-6, 2014.
Former Alamada Vice Mayor Leoginildo Calibara, event focal person, said among the special awards given to participants were oldest and youngest participants, heaviest and lightest participants and biggest delegation.
Calibara said that apart from being one of the major sports events of the Kalivungan Festival and 100th year of Cotabato, the Centennial Eco-Tourism Mountain Bike Fun Ride 2014 also promoted tourism destinations in Alamada where the majestic Asik-Asik falls is located.
The reception area of the Asik-Asik falls is the 75-km mountain bike challenge’s finish line after it jumps off the grounds of Aleosan municipal hall.
But before reaching the finish line, the bikers had to hurdle rough terrains that tested their durability and performance and most of all their skills in biking, down-hilling, dirt jumping and even aerial stunts.
Hundreds and even thousands expectators lined-up the road leading to Alamada, providing cheers, water and relief to about a hundred bikers from various cities and provinces in Mindanao. (PNA)