STA. ROSA, Laguna–George Oconer, Jr. of the Philippine Sports Commission/PhilCycling team took the 60-kilometer Stage 1 yesterday to jumpstart his title campaign in the Ronda Pilipinas 2015, presented by LBC, that started and ended at the Paseo Greenfield City here.
Oconer, 23, outsprinted 2011 inaugural champion Santy Barnachea and Rudy Roque of Navy-Standard Insurance, Army’s Cris Joven and teammate Rustom Lim in a frenetic finish to rule the opening stage in one hour, 13 minutes and 15 seconds.
raises his arms at the podium after winning the 60-kilometer Stage 1
that started and ended at the Paseo Greenfield City.
It was Oconer’s first stage triumph since snatching a stage in the Tuguegarao-Solana lap in the third edition two years ago.
For his feat, Oconer pocketed P15,000, gained a precious 10-second bonus that was chopped off his time and wore the LBC red jersey symbolic of the leader during the 120.5-km Calamba-Atimonan Stage 2 later on the same day.
But Oconer, son of former Olympian Norberto, said it’s too early to celebrate.
“It’s only Stage 1,” said Oconer, now an Air Force man who is wearing the national team colors, in Filipino.
Meanwhile, the whole Ronda caravan paid tribute to the 44 policemen killed in Mamasapano, Maguindanao by putting a “Fallen 44” sticker on their jerseys.
Roque ended up second in the stage, while Joven third but all five including Oconer, Lim and Barnachea clocked the same time of 1:13.15.
Rounding up the stage’s top 10 were Navy’s Jan Paul Morales, Cebu-VMobile’s Rey Nelson Martin Army’s Marvin Tapic, 7-Eleven’s RJ Perlta and Spanish Edgar Nieto, who all posted identical clockings of 1:15.39.
After the time bonuses were deducted, Oconer leads the way with a total time of 1:13.05, followed by Joven (1:13.07) and Roque (1:13.09).
After a busy, two-stage opening day, Ronda resumes today with a 171.1-km Stage 3 that will unfold at the Quezon Provincial Capitol in Lucena and end at the Rizal Provincial Capitol.
From Lucena, Stage 3 will pass Pagbilao, Tayabas and Lucban in Quezon, Luisiana, Cavinti, Lumban, Paete, Siniloan, Tanay, Morong and Teresa and then eventually Antipolo in Rizal.
The race is presented by LBC and supported by major sponsors Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation, Petron and Mitsubishi and minor sponors Cannondale, Standard Insurance, Tech1 Corp., Maynilad, NLEX and NLEX Cycling and sanctioned by PhilCycling under Cavite Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, with TV5 and Sports Radio as media partners.
For updates, check Ronda Pilipinas’ official Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/RondaPilipinas, and Twitter account, @rondapilipinas.