Lord Cedric Mascariñas looks to capitalize once again on his superb biking prowess as he aims for back-to-back victories in the men’s division of the Sunrise Sprint (S2), a sub-category of the centerpiece Sun Life 5150 Bohol, which unfolds this Sunday at the scenic Panglao Island.

Mascariñas dominated last year’s staging of the short-distance race series, using a powerful bike leg to clinch the overall title in the 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run course set at the Bellevue Resort’s scenic beachside, now widely regarded as a premier triathlon hub in the country.

Dubbed as S2, the Sunrise Sprint is crafted to cater to aspiring triathletes — those new to the sport, returning athletes rekindling their competitive fire, and individuals seeking to immerse themselves in the multisport discipline without the demands of long training hours.

But beyond its accessibility, the S2 has steadily evolved into a competitive platform that cultivates the next generation of triathlon stars, offering Olympic-style race conditions and drawing increasingly deeper fields with each edition.

Mascariñas is bracing for a tougher test this time, with a mix of emerging and established challengers led by fellow Cebuanos Michael Lalimos, last year’s third-placer, and IRONKIDS standout Carron Cañas.