Atilano brothers Lito and Elmer led a breakaway by 10 riders some 30 kilometers from the starting line in Malolos, Bulacan and sped away from the group in the winding ascent to this city for a rare, if not record-setting, 1-2 finish by siblings in a Tour stage.
STAR carrier Enrique Domingo, winner of the Olongapo stop last year and again among the marked men in this Tour, figured in a two-man spill with Roberto Pagala along the highway in Lubao, Pampanga and, thus, got stymied in his bid to finally make a decisive move after three tough mountain-climbing stages in the Golden Tour.
Two-day yellow jersey holder Warren Davadilla and nearest pursuer Rhyan Tanguilig, meanwhile, just kept an eye on each other and the other riders atop the overall leadership, allowing the Atilanos to win honors in the 133.6km fourth stage on a hot Sunday.
Lito, the more seasoned rider who has just regained a slot in the national team after missing the 2003 Vietnam Games, won by a half-length over Elmer for his first ever top podium stint. Both clocked 03:08’37.
Lito and Elmer later said they’re dedicating their victory to their father Emio, a frustrated rider who turned to carpentry in their native town Roxas in Oriental Mindoro.
"Ang pinaghandaan talaga namin ngayon ay ang laban namin sa team competition. Eh, noong natira kaming magkapatid sa harapan, pinagusapan na namin na trabahuhin namin pati ang individual honors," said Lito, skipper of the Metro Drug team under coach Ceferino Vacunawa.
With a third rider in Fernando Alagano also making a strong finish, Metro Drug seized the team overall leadership with an aggregate time of 37:39.17.258 as against the 37:42.36.306 of previous pacesetter Colt 45, bannered by Davadilla.
In the individual overall leadership, Lito, fifth placer last year, gained six notches up to 13th, eight minutes and 39 seconds off the pace.
Davadilla, Tanguilig, Alvin Benosa and Santi Barnachea all finished with the main group and kept their one-two-three-four position for the third straight day.
Coming in with the chase group, Alagano surged to fifth place, relegating rookie McQuin Aleomar to sixth spot.
"Nagkabantayan lang iyung mga nasa itaas. Noong alam kung walang mangyayari, hindi na ako nag-attempt kumawala at masasayang lang ang pagod ko," said Davadilla, keeping the overall leadership for the third straight day.
Davadilla expects tougher challenge from his chief rivals today as many could launch an attack with a rest day succeeding today’s 205.5km fifth stage to Alaminos, Pangasinan.
"Pwedeng maglaspag bukas dahil rest day sa Tuesday," said Davadilla.
Nonetheless, the pint-sized national rider from Valenzuela is confident he can hold on to the yellow jersey.
Incidentally, Davadilla made a record in wearing the yellow jersey for 14 straight stages in winning the 1998 Centennial Tour crown.
The Atilano brothers could have gained ground on the tour frontrunners had they not missed the right turning point in the Balanga provincial compound. They lost at least 20 seconds on the confusion.
Benito Lopez Jr., another Metro Drug rider running seventh after the third stage in Tagaytay, helped the Atilanos in engineering the breakaway in San Fernando, Pampanga with eventual third-placer Carlo Jazul, Johnny Dasalla, Jonathan Paras, Joy Agustin, Jesus Garcia and Rey Martin.
But Lopez faded to the second group with Agustin, Garcia and Martin before the Balanga turn after the Metro Drug No. 3 man suffered a flat tire.
The route was a bit bumpy that a number of cyclists suffered flat tires. Unluckiest was Reinhard Gorrantes who needed to change a tire twice.