Southeast Asian Games gold medalist John Renee Mier will don the leader’s yellow jersey today as the first leg of the four day Cebu Challenge Cycling Classic heads to Bogo City.
The 20-year-old Mier took the lead after ruling yesterday’s Individual Time Trial (ITT) at the South Road Properties (SRP).
Though he was never mentioned as one of the favorites, Mier, of LBA Team-A, silenced his doubters by topping the ITT in four minutes and 53.98 seconds.
“We will work as a team for the first stage, I know that it will be very difficult but I trust my teammates,” said Mier who ranked 9th overall in this year’s Ronda Filipinas where he bagged the “Best Young Rider” award.
LPG American Vinyl Manila’s Rudy Roque placed second in four minutes and 57.59 seconds followed by Dolor’s Minimart/Dans Bike Team Danao skipper Niño Surban (4:59.32).
LPG American Vinyl Manila’s team captain Irish Valenzuela came in fourth in five minutes, 0.61 seconds while teammate Rustom Lim placed fifth in five minutes, 02.32 seconds.
The rest of the top 10 in yesterday’s ITT: 6th Mark Bonzo of LBC Team A (5:03.19), 7th Arnel Quirimit of Mangaldan Pangasinan (5:05.32), 8th Marvin Tapic of Cebu Province Team (5:05.78), 9th Ramon Espinosa of Dolors Minimart Danao (5:07.19) and 10th Raemon Lapza of Cycle Line Extreme Butuan (5:10.19).
The 101.7-kilometer first stage will start at 10 a.m. at the Cebu Provincial Capitol grounds going to Bogo City.