Primero No. 1 in long fifth stage

Frederick Feliciano rode defensively as planned to easily keep the overall leadership even as Albert Primero, though missing one turn in the route, lived up to his name, finishing first in the Air21 Tour Pilipinas 2004 Stage Five from Tagaytay to Quezon Memorial Circle yesterday. Feliciano and Primero seized the spotlight on another scorching summer day when one RP trade team member openly declared war against the rest of the field with the Tour about to swing to the north where, traditionally, the real challengers are separated from mere pretenders.

Alfie Catalan, among eight trade riders in the fold, declared the fight after making a significant move and finishing second behind Primero in one of the long stages in the tour, covering a distance of 212 kilometers.

"Nagtulungan kami ni Albert hanggang mag-cramps na ako sa last 20 kilometers. Hindi ko nakuha yung stage, pero okay lang dahil pareho naman kaming trade team.

Mas magandang sa trade team mapunta kaysa sa iba," said Catalan, who represents Marsman in the Tour.

Organizers and officials were disappointed on Catalan’s remarks which they thought were inimical to the essence of the tour. "He has his team here to support and yet he expressed his preference to support his trade teammates," rued one official.

Incidentally, organizers take pride in their success in eliminating regional fight in the tour last year.

Feliciano, a national rider who is assistant skipper of Patrol 117, kept a close watch on closest rivals Eusebio Quinones of Purefoods, Merculio Ramos of Samsung and Ryan Tanguilig of PLDT-NDD and reached the finish line with the yellow jersey safe in his possession.

He thought it’s easier to defend the precious jersey today as they have an easier ride to Olongapo City–a route shorter in distance with only one steep climb near the finish.

"Mas madaling dumepensa bukas. Kung may pagkakataon, baka umatake pa ako," said the Aliaga, Nueva Ecija native who enjoys a seven-second lead over Quinones.

Primero, the Dole team captain, also rode according to plan, mounting attacks in the rolling highways of Laguna and Rizal to take his first-ever stage victory in a multi-leg tour. He clocked 5:19:41.

"Pangako ko sa sarili ko kukunin ko ito. Nararamdaman ko kaya humingi ako ng suporta kay coach (Arsenio Tado) at sa mga teammates ko. Sinuportahan naman nila ako ng husto," said the 26-year-old Guimba, Nueva Ecija part-time farmer who returned to the scene of a previous victory yesterday.

Primero topped the last of the four-stage Calabarzon Tour in practically the same route.

Despite familiarity with the route, the 2002 Calabarzon Tour second runner-up, pacing Catalan in their break away, missed one turn in the Antipolo City proper in confusion because of the huge cheering crowd.

But he wasted just a few seconds before returning on course and again working with Catalan for the one-two finish that gave them a big lift in the leader board.

Primero improved from fifth to third, only one minute and 12 seconds off three-stage overall leader Feliciano. Catalan, meanwhile, leapfrogged from 53rd to 34th although he’s still way behind with a 24-minute deficit.

Another big gainer in the day was Beer na Beer rookie Tomas Martinez who outsprinted 1996 Marlboro Tour champion Victor Espiritu for third place that propelled him to seventh from 12th.

Rounding up the Magic 10 were Ramos at fourth, Tanguilig at fifth, STAR carrier Enrique Domingo at sixth, Ronald Gorantes at eighth, Arnold Marcelo at ninth and Rene Dolosa at 10th.

Ailing reigning champion Arnel Quirimit continued to fade away as he now trails the leader by 37 minutes and seven seconds. He improved in the standings, though, from 61st to 48th.

Catalan made the initial breakaway from the peleton in the mountain climb in Mabitac with reigning sprint king Domingo.

It was not long, though, before Primero got his own group to chase Catalan and Domingo, forming a bigger breakaway group composed of 11 riders halfway through the race.

The group was broken in the downhill run in Teresa where Primero and Catalan raced away, building the momentum for their one-two finish. "Sa totoo lang sabit-sabit lang ako," said Primero.

TOUR NOTES: Tour legal and race consultant Cornelio Padilla Jr. is wondering why the big guns are still opting to guard one another though the tour has passed through tough climbing stages in Camarines Norte, Atimonan, Tagaytay, Mabitac and Antipolo. "Wala silang makukuha sa patag. Kaya kung may dapat silang kuhaan, doon sa mga ahon. Kayang-kaya silang sabayan ng mga bata sa patag," said Padilla. The former back-to-back tour champion also said nobody has shown consistency in the tour ... At the starting line before yesterday’s stage, Sherwin Diamsay was still so sorry for his sprinting infraction Sunday. "Hindi ko po sadya iyon. Dala lang po siguro ng sobrang pagod," said Diamsay. Some observers, however, said the young riders in the field may not be familiar with that particular rule. "Medyo matagal din kasing nawala ang tour. Last year naman, halos walang sprinting finish," said one observer…Primero topped the Summit King of the Mountain stages yesterday, surging ahead of Feliciano in the overall point tally. Domingo ruled the sprint stage and darted ahead of Villamor Baluyot in the overall tally. The Postmen, skippered by Domingo, stayed the leader in the team championship, followed by Beer na Beer, Samsung, Purefoods and Dole.