ITALIAN cyclist Christian Buttazzo braved the unfamiliar terrain and dominated the first-ever Chigo AirCon Cycling Criterium yesterday at the North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City.
The visiting Buttazzo finished the 36-kilometer, 15-lap race with a time of 1 hour, 20 minutes and 13 seconds to finish nearly three seconds ahead of second place Robert Reyes. Nestor Juntilla finished in third place, 2.89 seconds behind the winner.
Completing the top five finishers were 66-year-old Teodulfo Quilantang at fourth place and 65-year-old Rogelio Basirgo at fifth.
Philippine National Games double medalist 14-year-old Ana Patricia “Icamax” Maximo of Sacred Heart School-Hijas missed the podium at ninth place.
With his win, Christian Buttazzo will be promoted to a higher category in the next leg of the Chigo Cycling series. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio