Dadi outlasts Pinoys to win cross-country

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Cebu City, Cebu, the Philippines

Dadi Nurcahyadi brought a pleasant surprise in the men's cross-country in Danao City here, outmaneuvering Frederick Reyes Feliciano and Eusebio Zaldua Quinones of the Philippines.

The Indonesian clocked 2 hours 18 minutes 48.20 seconds to win the gold medal, with Feliciano finishing in 2:21:10.85 for silver and Quinones 2:23:36.92 for bronze.

"It was an unexpected gold because we only thought we'd get silver or bronze in cross-country," chef de mission Djoko Pramono, who was visiting Cebu, said during his visit.

"This is good news because some sports organizations have surpassed their target."

National SEA Games mountain bike coach Chandra Ariavijaya said the victory was the result of a careful strategy, with Indonesia only fielding three cyclists focused on the cross-country event, while other countries had four.

Bandi Sugito and Usman Ali also represented Indonesia in the event.

"Bandi controlled the main group, while Dadi and Usman were able to free themselves from the main group," Chandra said.

"But, unfortunately, Usman fell from his bike, thus leaving Dadi alone to lead all the riders."

C++++cling team manager Sofyan Ruzian, who is also the Indonesian Cycling Association (ISSI) secretary general, said the unexpected win would encourage the other cycling team members to win more golds for Indonesia.

"We are unfortunate not to win more medals through Usman who have taken a lead in the cross country race along with Dadi," he said.

"But this win will certainly be a good morale booster for other cyclists to win more golds for Indonesia."

In the women's cross country, Indonesian Kusmawati Yasid finished fifth with a time of 2:07:16.33. Baby Marites Sotto Bitbit of the Philippines took the gold medal with a time of 1:49:54.91, followed by Jirapon Jantharat of Thailand in 1:53:40.90 and Nguyen Thanh Dam of Vietnam with bronze at 2:01:19.72.

The ISSI has targeted five golds in the Games. Two years ago in Vietnam, cyclists delivered four gold and three silver to win the overall standings in the cycling competition.

In the 2003 SEA Games, Santia Tri Kusuma won two golds in women's criterium and 90-kilometer road race, Ferinanto won gold in men's criterium and Sugianto "Hoho" Setyawan won the downhill.

Hoho retained his gold medal on Monday.