Valenzuela holds off rivals, wins overall title
Irish Valenzuela of the American Vinyl-LPGMA kept his closest pursuers at bay in the final stage to come away with the Ronda Pilipinas 2013 overall crown yesterday in Baguio City.
Although finishing just in joint 67th together with teammate Edgardo Bolliser in the 67.5-km criterium race around the city that ended at the Lakeshore Drive of the Burnham Park, the 25-year-old Valenzuela managed to secure the title by finishing the 16-stage tour around the country with an aggregate time of 50 hours, 53 minutes and 58 seconds.
Valenzuela played catch up in most part of the 21-day tour but made his move in the 34-kilometer Pugo to Baguio 15th stage last Thursday to snatch the overall lead from PLDT-Spyder’s Ronald Oranza.
Yesterday, he played it safe and cruised throughout the race, making sure that his main rivals were at bay to ensure the victory. He finished in an hour, 44 minutes and 18 seconds, which was 31 seconds behind stage winner Jan Paul Morales of Navy-Standard Insurance (1:43.47).
With the victory, Valenzuela, who fell short of the title last year after finishing at second place behind eventual champion Mark Galedo of Roadbike Philippines, earned the top purse of P1 million.
Ronald Gorantes of the Road Bike Philippines finished second overall (55:20.49) while Oranza placed third (55:21.00).
OVERALL TEAM WINNER
Road Bike Philippines emerged the top team with a total time of 162:51:29 followed by the Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance (162:53.28) and PLDT-Spyder (162:54.25).
Cebu’s Y101-FM finished seventh overall with a time of 163:55.19. Amelito Atilano was the highest placed among Y101-FM’s bets at 15th overall. Renato Sembrano placed 29th while Warren Davadilla settled for 33rd place.
Completing the top 10 in yesterday’s stage were Jerry Aquino Jr. of Road Bike Philippines, teammate Ronnel Hualda, PLDT-Spyder’s Mark Julius Bonzo, PH Navy’s Lloyd Lucien Reynante, Team Tarlac’s Merculio Ramos, PH Navy’s George Oconer, Team Mindanao Cycle Line’s March Mcquinn Aleonar, Ferdinand Pablo of Hundred Islands Pangasinan and Oranza, respectively.
