On a day key members of the Philippine team admitted they have made a pact among themselves, non-national riders ironically stole the thunder as they laid down their own conspiracy for a siege that gave them significant gains in the tour’s ninth stage from Dagupan City.
There’s Bernard Luzon who fulfilled a promise for a big comeback after a sorry showing Sunday, flashing victorious to this place the Nueva Ecijano considered his second home.
There’s also Felix Celeste who sustained the momentum of his triumphant finish in the eighth stage in his home province, checking in third this time to continue his climb in the standings.
Then, there’s Rhyan Tanguilig, dubbed the second coming of Carlo Guieb, who made a bold move while the national riders weren’t looking, thus, jumping into second place —- only one minute and 40 seconds behind pacesetter Merculio Ramos.
The gap could have become closer if not for a late charge by Ramos and his RP team pals after a decision to answer a call of nature during the neutral start proved costly.
"Napunta ako sa likuran dahil umihi ako sa start. Nagulat na lang ako may nakawala na pala kaagad," said the Samsung team captain, holder of the yellow jersey in the last five legs, on his early foul-up.
Luzon, Celeste and Tanguilig were among nine riders who staged a daring breakaway only a few kilometers into the race. And they helped one another, taking turns in setting the pace to effect a major shakeup in the standings.
Luzon, the 22-year-old former SBMA Tour 2000 champion who was once a finisher in the Tour of Ireland, peeled off from the pack in the last 15 kilometers and checked in all by his lonesome despite a spill in the final bend heading to the finish line in front of the provincial capitol.
"Pangako ko sa sarili ko babawi ako ngayon. At paborito ko ang ruta dahil natira ako noon sa may Bantay. Parang bayan ko na rin itong Vigan," said Luzon, who moved back in the thick of things, jumping from 12th to sixth, 11.25 off the leader.
Others who improved in the standings were Placido Valdez from eighth to seventh, 13.16 behind the leader, Lito Atilano (14.07) from ninth to eighth, Lloyd Reynante (14.55) from 10th to ninth, Renato Dolosa (15.02) from 11th to 10th, Santi Barnachea (15.38) from 13th to 11th, Ronald Gorrantes (15.57) from 24th to 12th, Alfie Catalan (17.52) from 16th to 14th, Celeste (17.56) from 19th to 15th and Albert Primero (19.26) from 17th to 16th.
Erstwhile leader Arnel Quirimit chose to ride all the way with Ramos and probably regretted his ploy as he fell to fourth place. Quirimit, Ramos and national teammate Warren Davadilla crossed the finish line with the sixth group, 6.43 behind the lap winner.
Postmen team captain and Philippine STAR carrier Enrique Domingo came in with the fifth group to stay at third place. He’s now only 2.21 behind Ramos.
"Nagkampihan na rin sila (non-RP riders). Pero kahit na magkampihan sila, tingin ko hindi sila uubra (versus the national riders)," said Ramos.
Sensing that the RP riders have bonded themselves together, Tanguilig hatched his own plan to attack yesterday. He said: "Alam ko nagkausap-usap na sila. Wala naman mangyayari kung makikipagbantayan lang ako sa kanila, kaya kumilos na ako."
Tanguilig, Celeste and Luzon, together with Michael Primero of Gilbey’s Island Punch, Virgilio Muena of PLDT-NDD, Rene Esteban of Postmen, Arnel Espino of Pagcor Sports and Dominador Jacob of Tanduay broke away from the peloton even before they left the Dagupan proper.
Running at an average speed of 55 kph under the searing heat, the group led their closest pursuers by more than 10 minutes in some stretch.
But Muena, Esteban, Espino, Jacob could’t keep pace all the way, falling behind one after another until only Tanguilig, Celeste, Luzon and Primero were left in the lead pack while negotiating a winding stretch in Narvacan, overlooking the pristine South China sea on the left.
Primero, the eventual second placer, attempted to cut loose when they hit Bantay, the last town before Vigan. But Luzon waged a chase, overtaking Primero in the last three kilometers and going on to nail the top lap honors.
"Nag-usap na kami na magtulungan, para umakat kami sa standings. Lahat nag-trabaho," said Luzon.
The field is down to 82 as the tour goes to Laoag in the 10th stage today with Drug Buster Jecky Barrandes quitting because of an injured knee. Patrol 117’s Eusebio Quinones was rushed to the hospital after the ninth lap because of diarrhea but he continued the race yesterday, finishing at 63rd.
TOUR NOTES: Tour veterans could only reminisce the good old days when tour legend Jose Sumalde, during his long stint as Professional Cycling Association of the Philippines president, would always make it a point to have the Dagupan stop of the tour falling on his birthday, and he would treat the officials and the media to a grand dinner with the best food and drink in Dawel, a restaurant along the riverbank in the outskirts of the city... On Sunday night, Today assistant sports editor and tour publicity official Jun Lomibao picked up the slack, hosting a dinner in their ancestral home right in the heart of the city... Paquito Rivas became a butt of joke in the dinner as the tour official, a non-drinker, struggled to finish a bottle of beer. He was clocked to finish it in 36 minutes plus a few seconds . . . Also terribly missed in the tour is the unofficial tour anthem "Buhay Siklista" – composed and popularized by former tour champion Jesus Garcia. "Nami-miss ng mga siklista, kaya lang wala silang magawa, bawal patugtugin ito sa tour." The source said no less than National Cycling Association of the Philippines officials ordered the ban because of their rift with Garcia and his group. . . . . Trouble is abrewing in the PLDT-NDD team with some of its players airing gripes against their coach Alfredo Millanes. The players complain Millanes is remiss in his duties, giving more attention to his son Joseph who is with the Tanduay Distillers team. The older Millanes denies the chargers. . . . . Before the start of yesterday’s race, Drug Busters team captain Placido Valdez said he has lost his best kicks but he’s still good enough to win a lap in the current tour. "Maski si Bernie (Llentada), nagiipon ng lakas at kukuha ng lap iyan. Ako kukuha pa rin ako dyan, pangako. Huwag lang ngayon," said Valdez, claiming his left knee was sore.