Davadilla captures cycling’s 2nd silver

HANOI — Warren Davadilla chipped in a silver medal to the Philippine coffers on Wednesday, finishing second in the men’s 160-km massed start race to a Malaysian veteran whose skills were honed and sharpened in Europe for years.

The silver medal was the second from cycling after Victor Espiritu’s in the 39-km individual time trial and the third medal including the bronze of Alfie Catalan in criterium, but it was one, and the lost bronze for Merculio Ramos, that squeezed emotions out of the entire Philippine team.

Head coach Jomel Lorenzo was in tears as he contested the ruling of the race commissaire, a New Zealander, that Ramos committed an infraction during the sprint finish. Ramos, the commissaire said, swerved during the sprint, a violation of UCI rules.

"Alam ko na hindi siya nag-commit ng infraction," a teary-eyed Lorenzo, a multi-gold medal rider in the 1979 and 1981 Sea Games.

Mar Mendoza, team manager and secretary-general of the cycling federation, joined Lorenzo as well as the rest of the team in trying to keep the bronze to Ramos but were frustrated.

Razalli Shahrul Neeza Bin Mohd, a 33-year-old warrior of a rider, clocked three hours, 47 minutes, 2.12 seconds in clinching his fourth Sea Games gold medal and the first for Malaysia in these games.

The cold, chilly and wet conditions almost tolled on Razalli, who claimed he could have given up after only 10 kms but egged himself to keep on. The veteran in him and the skills he earned from his stints and training in Europe allowed him to keep a blistering pace and win the event almost unmolested.

Emotions also overwhelmed Davadilla that after crossing the finish in 3:47:34.24, or 32.12 seconds behind the Malaysian, he almost broke in tears. "Pinilit ko sir," was all Davadilla could utter.

Ramos, who crossed a wheel ahead of the Thai, was relegated to fourth place behind Hinthao Youthaporn. Ramos was timed 3:47:39.67 and the Thai 3:47:39.75.

The event was raced over a 10-km layout where the riders had to complete 16 laps. Thirty cyclists were entered but 23 were able to finish.

The nationals, perhaps the strongest team ever assembled for the Sea Games, employed a strategy of having Davadilla as the rider to go for the win and Espiritu, Arnel Quirimit and Henry Domingo as decoys. Rhyan Tanguilig and Ramos were to be the support riders.