Domingo wrests lead

SAN FERNANDO, La Union — Enrique Domingo had a simple and pure plan of conquering the sprint runs yesterday to be the virtual Sprint King of the Air21 Tour Pilipinas 2003.

Little did he know there would be a grand bonus awaiting him at the finish line in this bustling city.

Sweeping the three sprint stages in the lap from Laoag, Ilocos Norte, Domingo grabbed the yellow jersey from fellow national rider Arnel Quirimit — a hell of a job in a day’s work which he later dedicated to his fellow workers and bosses at the Philippine STAR.

"Para sa STAR at kay Boss Miguel ito," said the proud STAR carrier, offering his feat to the paper and its president Miguel Belmonte who extended him financial support on the eve of the lap — 11th of 15 ending in Manila on Sunday.

"Binigyan ako ng P5,000 at ang laki ng naitulong dahil naibili ko ng bagong gulong na ginamit ko ngayon. Pudpod na ang lumang gulong ko," added the virtual Sprint King in the tour presented by Air21 and sponsored by Lipovitan, Accel, Longines, FedEx, Philtranco, Mail and More, San Mig Light and BPI-MS.

"Hindi ko naman talaga inasahan ang yellow jersey. Ang target ko lang ay ang sprint. Kahit nga malaglag ako sa top 10 okay lang basta makuha ko ang sprint. Kasi mas malaki pa ang premyo dito kaysa manalo ka lang outside the top five," he said on his virtual victory in sprint competition. The event winner gets a P30,000 cash prize plus a Longines watch worth P40,000.

After finishing ahead of everybody in all the three sprint runs, Domingo floated with the main peleton in the last few kilometers, leaving to breakaway partners Frederick Feliciano and Bernard Luzon — both from Nueva Ecija — the fight for the lap honors.

Feliciano, a member of the RP mountain bike team and tour first-timer, outpedalled Luzon entering the busy San Fernando city proper to win the lap and make significant move in the standings.

"Di ko inasahan, pero sabi ko sa sarili ko hindi ako titigil hanggang hindi nakakakuha ng lap," said the 25-year-old Aliaga, Nueva Ecija native, now at No. 14 in the chart.

Domingo, also winner of the Marikina-to-Olongapo stage last Friday, is now assured of a rich paycheck but he’s looking for an even bigger purse although he admits he’s in a for a tough grind as they tackle the treacherous Baguio mountains in the next two days.

He knows the likes of Quirimit, Merculio Ramos, Rhyan Tanguilig and Warren Davadilla lurk behind him, ready to attack in the killer Baguio climb, which traditionally decides the outcome of the tour.

Domingo enjoys a lead of two minutes and nine seconds over over Quirimit going to Baguio today. Merculio is at third 2:53 adrift, Tanguilig fourth 3;23 behind and Davadilla fifth 4:10 off the pace.

"Lamang sila dahil mas malakas sila sa ahon. Pero tingin ko may laban na ako ngayon dahil sa experience. Kaya ko ng laruin siguro ang pressure," said Domingo, who had a harrowing experience in 1996, seeing his tour title bid practically fall in a Baguio ravine.

Victor Espiritu won the crown then as Domingo yielded the yellow jersey in Baguio.

"Iba na siguro ngayon. Sama-sama kami ng national team nag-training sa mountain-climbing. Halos pare-parehas lang ang lakas namin," said Domingo, whose best finish in the Baguio lap was sixth during his tour rookie year in 1988.

As both promised, erstwhile leaders Quirimit and Ramos spent the day guarding each other, coming in with the sixth group as they fell to second and third, respectively, in the standings.

Tanguilig also checked in with the same group and stayed at fourth while Davadilla and Santi Barnachea caught up with Domingo with the chase pack and kept their positions at fifth and sixth, respectively.

TOUR NOTES: Enrique Domingo is looking to score a grand slam of sort in sprint competition as he ruled the event in 1997 and 1998. And he looked to have gotten it after the 11th lap as he increased his output to 36 points as against the 19 of second running Bernard Luzon. Arnel Quirimit and Lito Atilano had eight apiece at third. "Mukhang sa akin na kaya iblo-blowout ko ang mga teammates ko mamaya hahit ice cream lang," he said. Aware that Luzon is his main rival, Domingo talked to the Patrol 117 skipper during the start, telling him: "Ang anino ko nasa likod mo, kahit saan ka magpunta."..... Quirimit and Davadilla are running one and two in the King of the Mountain race. Quirimit has 20 points and Davadilla 13 with Feliciano and Domingo tied at third with 11 apiece and Lloyd Reynante at fifth with 10. The King of the Mountain will be named after the two Baguio laps..... Samsung coach Gerry Igos had his moustache shaven on the day (Tuesday) when Merculio Ramos lost the yellow jersey to Quirimit. "Tagal na akong di nagaahit. Nag-ahit ako noong Martes para pa-swerte kay Kapitan sana. Kaya lang malas pa ang inabot," said Igos with his thick Quezon province accent. "Walang katulong si Kapitan. Kudrado na ang sipa ng mga teammates niya," Igos added.