Faces of the News: Jai Crawford

Australia’s Jai Crawford of Kinan Cycling Team, the winner of Le Tour de Filipinas 8th Edition and Great Britain’s Daniel Whitehouse of Terengannu Cycling Team is all smiles with some fans after finishing the stage four, a 207KM from Daet to Lucena. INQUIRER PHOTO/ Sherwin Vardeleon

It wasn’t quite the kind of race that Jai Crawford usually dominates. With no mountaintop finish, the climb expert needed to dig deep if he wanted to rule the 8th Le Tour de Filipinas.

That’s exactly what he did, furiously giving his rivals the slip in the Tour’s longest stage to nail the crown. Crawford went on an all-out attack in the first 10 kilometers and was never challenged from there for his third career UCI 2.2 category race victory.

Crawford checked in fifth after the 207.35-kilometer ride from Daet, Camarines Norte, which was won by Sanghong Park of LX Cycling Team in 5  hours and 13 seconds.

Crawford used the lone climb in Atimonan late in the stage to ditch his chasers and coast to the finish, where he was greeted by several flag-waving fans.