PH Navy takes lead in Ronda Pilipinas

Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance made it two in a row as George Oconer topped the 13th stage of the Ronda Pilipinas 2013 yesterday.

Oconer finished  the 204-kilometer race from Tuguegarao to Solano,Nueva Viscaya in four hours, 46 minutes and 45 seconds to emerge on top.

His win, which came a day after teammate Jan Paul Morales topped stage 12, put Philippine Navy on top in the overall team classification, dislodging former leader PLDT/Spyder. Philippine Navy has a total time of  138:46:19 while PLDT is 12 seconds behind. At third is Roadbike Philippines (138:51:49).

Cebu’s Y101FM (139:09:57) is at fifth place trailing fourth-placer American Vinyl/PGMA (138:59:17).

Team Mindanao Cycle Line Butuan’s Junrey Navarra placed second in yesterday’s race while Ferdinand Pablo of Team Hundred Islands placed third (4:47.42).

Oconer, however, was the only rider from the Philippine Navy who made it in the top 10.

From fourth to 10th were Joseph Millanes of Team Tarlac, Jemico Brioso and Rustom Lime of PLDT-Spyder, Ronnel Hualda of Road Bike Philippines, Rey Martin of V-Mobile Smart, Road Bike Philippines’ Harvey Sicam and teammate Jerry Aquino Jr.

Meanwhile, overall individual leader Ronald Oranza of PLDT will still wear the red jersey going into the 14th stage, which is a 133.5-kilometer high-altitude race from  Bayombong, Nueva Viscaya to Baguio City tomorrow.

Oranza (47:20.14) still holds the lead in the overall race  followed by former Ronda Pilipinas champion Santy Barnachea (47:20:17) of the Philippine Navy.  American Vinyl-LPGMA’s Irish Valenzuela (47:20.47) is at third place.

Oranza withstood fierce attacks from Valenzuela  by joining forces with Barnachea and other Tour contenders to retain the overall lead. “Santy and I agreed to help each other along with the other riders in our pack,” Oranza told the Inquirer.

Riders will take a rest today and will resume tomorrow for the final three stages. /with the inquirer