Guam’s Blayde Blas slices to a 100-km HOM victory; NMI’s Renren Gaviola claims the 50-km crown

It was a far from ordinary race in a far from ordinary place—Saipan—and Guam’s Blayde Blas made the trip worth it with a first place finish in the elite 100-km long course with a time of 3:26:29.80 of the 2025 Hell of the Marianas on Saturday.

Starting at Marpi in front of the old Marianas Resort, those who dared to take on the long course headed down the flat and scenic Beach Road, pushed through the southside and up Papago’s grueling and unforgiving hills, cut into Kagman, took on the beautiful Route 36, then climbed back north to Suicide Cliff and hit the turnaround just past the Grotto entrance before returning to the start/finish line at Marpi. The race had everything—rain, slippery roads, and later, hellish heat and humidity. It was a true test of endurance through what is, if you’re on two wheels, Saipan’s hellish landscape.

The 23-year-old Blas said, after regaining feeling in his legs following the race, “It was very tough. This is my third one, so I got to pace myself a bit better. I think that’s what led to the win this time.”

Third time’s the charm for the Guamanian, but it didn’t come easy, as he was either in third or in the middle of the top three for most of the race. He said he took the lead only toward the end. “It was in the last 200 meters or so. I was really hoping it would come down to a sprint. I think I have a pretty strong kick, so I was happy the group was able to work together, and we sprinted hard at the end.”

The hardest part came in the last hour, when he cramped up while passing Banzai Cliff Road, making the final four climbs especially painful. Despite going through hell for the third time, the 23-year-old said he plans to be back next year to defend his title.

Second to Blas was Japan’s Tomonobu Kato, who, at the turnaround was in the lead, but fell behind and finished at 3:26:33.85. First place in the non-pro 100-km long course was NMI’s Fred Remilloza who finished right behind Blas with a time of 3:26:31.875.

Meanwhile, NMI’s Joel Buco and South Korea’s Kijoo Kwon finished nearly side by side with times of 3:42:24.011 and 3:42:24.463, respectively in the non-pro 100-km long course.

In the non-pro 100-km long course women’s division, NMI women swept the Top 3 as Robyn Spaeth posted a time of 4:43:11.906, followed by Kimiko McKagan at 4:48:30.477 and Kerri Bauer, who completed the course in 4:59:22.016.

As for the road bike 50-km short course, NMI bikers also swept the men’s division as Renren Gaviola led the road bike field with a time of 1:28:50.62, followed closely by Christian Villacrusis at 1:28:51.62 and Nap Dizon at 1:28:51.81. In the women’s division, Heather Brook claimed the top spot with 1:38:02.65, with Jay Anne Felipe finishing second in 1:44:04.30 and Marjorie Ganacias taking third at 1:56:31.94.

For 25-year-old Gaviola, he said the race was fun because there were a lot of participants. “I’m happy because I got first place even though I trained just for one month,” he said. It was a back-and-forth for the lead between him and Villacrusis, but Gaviola maintained his gap over him after the climb at Papago. Next year, Gaviola said he will be taking on the long course.

In the mountain bike 50-km short course men’s division, Briann Ytac dominated with a time of 1:34:19.192, while Michael Aparte (1:36:35.480) and Wifi Dela Rosa (1:36:36.138) rounded out the podium. In the women’s division, Rose Fontanilla topped it with a finish time of 2:08:49.493, followed by Rose Ann Mascariñas at 2:20:44.754 and Monique Era Mascariñas at 2:54:46.279.