CALACA, Batangas—Navy-Standard’s Ronald Oranza posted his seventh podium finish in the 147.8-kilometer Tagaytay-Calaca Stage 10 ruled by teammate Junrey Navara yesterday to move two stages away from officially claiming his first-ever title in the Ronda Pilipinas 2018 presented by LBC.
The 25-year-old Oranza outlasted 13 other riders to claim third place in three hours and 26.02 minutes in the stage, which started at the Tagaytay Convention Center and ended at the Calaca Municipal Hall here.
Navara won in 3:21:47, or a second ahead of Go for Gold’s Boots Ryan Cayubit with 3:21:48.
The seventh podium finish underscored Oranza’s domination of this 12-stage race staking P1 million to the champion as it was highlighted by stage victories in Vigan, Pagudpud and Tarlac.
Trailing fellow Navyman Jan Paul Morales by a few seconds after the opening stage in Vigan, Oranza imposed his will in the Vigan-Pagudpud Stage 2 to seize the overall lead and the red LBC jersey and never looked back from there.
With two stages to go, the Villasis, Pangasinan native, who has an aggregate time of 30:15:03, has practically sealed the win, as Morales, his closest pursuer with 30:35:18, had conceded as early as Stage 8.
Oranza, however, isn’t celebrating just yet.
“Maybe after Stage 11, we can talk about it,” said Oranza.
Oranza was referring to today’s 92.72km Calaca-Calaca Stage 11 that is practically a smaller sample size of Stage 10.
The race concludes with the Stage 12 criterium in Filinvest, Alabang tomorrow presented by LBC and supported by MVP Sports Foundation, Filinvest, Philippine Rabbit, CCN, Petron, Versa.ph, 3Q Sports Event Management, Inc., Boy Kanin, Franzia, Standard Insurance, Bike Xtreme, SH+, Guerciotti, Prolite, Green Planet, Maynilad, NLEX Sports, Lightwater, LBC Foundation and PhilCycling.
Navara, the 26-year-old General Santos City bet who weighs 47 kilos, was at his best as he had an easier time negotiating the mountain passes in Ticub and Payapa to register his first lap victory in a long while.
It also gave Navara the lead in the King of the Mountain race with 35 points against Morales’ 21 to close in on his fourth KOM title.
It also pushed him from No. 6 to No. 5 overall with 30:36:32, while sending Cris Joven of Army-Bicycology to No. 6 with 30:38:24.
George Oconer of Go for Gold was at No. 3 with 30:35:18 and Jhon Mark Camingao of Navy at No. 4 with 30:36:11, while Navy’s El Joshua Carino (30:42:23), Go for Gold Developmental team’s Jay Lampawog (30:45:06) and Navy’s Rudy Roque (30:46:55) rounded up the Top 10.
Navara was with Oranza, Cayubit and Joven when they made their move in the first 20-km, but he broke loose from the two in the ascent in Payapa, where he outsprinted Cayubit in the end.
It made up for his heartbreaking effort the day before when he led in the first 100km only to fade away in the stretch.
“I really pushed myself today (yesterday) because I made a mistake yesterday (Thursday). That’s why I made sure this time that’s why I attack when I needed to,” said Navara.