Reynante tops Tour de Leyte; Feliciano rules mountainbike in TLBF

The well-paved roads belonged to PAGCOR-Casino Filipino-All-pro Trade team member Lloyd Reynante while RP team member Frederick Feliciano claimed the mountains as they dominated in two separate cycling events in the 5th Terry Larrazabal Bike Festival yesterday.

After four days of grueling pedal-pushing, the Tour de Leyte ended dramatically with the PAGCOR squad dominating the overall standing.

But not after the RP team stole the limelight away after occupying the 1-2-3 spots of the criterium race.

As promised Reynante, who did not won a single stage but was consistent in the top five, went away with the yellow jersey after posting a total of six hours, 36 minutes and 15.92 seconds.

Cebuano Robert Villaver of Pryce Pharma ended second with 6:37:19.46.

Trade team skipper Victor Espiritu sealed his bid for third place in 6:38:01.11 clocking while another Cebuano rider under Pryce Pharma Jovanni Delica was fourth in 6:39:18.33.

King of the Mountain Merculio "Elmo" Ramos ended his quest at fifth place in 6:39:18.33 while teammate Albert Primero settled sixth in 6:39.56.41.

The seventh to 10th placers were Frederick Feliciano (6:40:05.52), Kennedy Ginoo (6:40:09.03), Pagcor's Sherwin Carrera (6:42:22.24) and Pryce Pharma's Nilo Barbalose (6:55:12.69).

The members of the RP squad, who did not engage the Trade team to a neck-to-neck battle managed to grab part of the limelight after winning the top post of the fourth and final stage.

The baby blue-clad jersey Trade team members were at the forefront in the first five laps covering 3.5 kilometer per lap.

But their game plan was spoiled by RP squad's Alfie Catalan, who zoomed in for the top post in the final 100 meters of action in the city's airport for the hard-earned first place in 32 minutes and 49.49 seconds.

Edwin Paragoso managed to trail Catalan and came out second while the up-and-coming Mark Bonzo came out third.

On the other hand, Cebuano Dexter Lapuz, one of the top cyclist in RECYCLE races, extended his dominance here after bagging the overall title of the master's I plus a bonus after winning stage 4 against Maiqui Dayrit and Noy Jopson.

Jose "Sankoy" Ontanillas of Bikehub also had a good story to share after winning the last stage in the junior-senior class which saw Pryce Pharma's Felomino Amago having the overall crown.

Alexander Billan also had a great day for himself after managing to win the master II criterium via solo breakaway while Ernesto Hortaleza grabbed the overall title.

Earlier, Feliciano made sure he doesn't end up to be a total disappointment to the RP team after finally winning his first title in the cross-country competition.

"Laspag na nga ako, pero pinilit ko talaga kasi pangatlo ko na dito, tapos yung dalawang beses, puro ako DNF (did-not-finish)," Feliciano said.

Feliciano prevented fellow RP team member Eusebio Quinones from taking a grandslam.

The distaff side saw Nitzel Montebon crowned as the fastest female rider while the second and third places went to Alexandra Ganzon and Lilibeth Donayre.

Pryce Pharma's Kennedy Ginoo was third while March Aleonar outpedalled Nino Surban to take the fourth and fifth places, respectively.

Coach Magno Betulfo of Pryce Pharma also takes pride with Dexter Nonato winning the junior class while Benjamin Fabroa got the master II class title over another Cebuano Jonathan Simbajon.

The senior division title went to John Paul Las Pinas while Noel Famor took away the master I class.

In the downhill event, Joey Barba won the title.

The intermediate class saw Paulo Tan winning the event while Rodolfo Garcia got the first place in the executive level.

Team Quickflight's Donkey Sanchez won the beginner's class while Mark Del Rosario managed to take the second place trophy.

Sanchez also won second place in the four-cross behind Jeremiah de Jose.

Michael Borja, who was upset by little-known downhillers in the expert's class, bounced back in the four-cross competition and pulled the win away against Parabanne Mendoza.