Sugianto goes downhill for first cycling gold

Sugianto goes downhill for first cycling gold

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

Sugianto "Hoho" Setyawan raced to the country's first gold in cycling with a win in the men's downhill race on Monday at Ramon M. Durano Sports Complex in Danao City here.

Risa Suseanty, who was slowed by a hip injury in the elimination rounds, was still able to get a bronze in the women's downhill in a time of three hours, 22 minutes and 41 seconds.

Hoho, who won with a time of 2:36.14, now has three titles this year, with other wins in Malang, East Java, and Bali.

The route isn't really a downhill race because many sections are flat. However, I'm very glad to have won SEA Games," he said.

Joel U. Barba of the Philippines (2:38.26) and compatriot Michael P. Borja (2:42.65) took the silver and bronze.

Another Indonesian, Priyo Susanto, was in with a medal chance when he fell.

"It was unfortunate for Priyo because we expected him to win a medal," Indonesian Cycling Association (ISSI) secretary-general Sofyan Ruzian said. "But we're glad Hoho could win the gold."

In the women's downhill, Vietnamese Trang Phan Thi Thuy grabbed the gold in 3:08.30, followed by Thai Sattayanun Abdul Karee with 3:19.35.

On Tuesday, two golds are offered in the men's and women's cross country division with Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo expected to watch the race.

Sofyan said that Indonesia had a 50:50 chance of triumphing.

The ISSI has set a target for five gold from the Games.