Davadilla fulfilled his destiny yesterday, elevating himself to the pantheon of cycling immortals with a repeat of his 1998 triumph at the conclusion of the Golden Tour 50 @ 05 witnessed by a mammoth crowd lining both sides of Roxas Blvd.
The pint-sized national rider from Valenzuela, an Airman Second Class, towed the six-man third group to the finish of the 90km criterium race in 1:36’04, completing the 10-stage tour spread over a total distance of 1,492.89kms in 37 hours, 20 minutes and 55 seconds.
That was good for an impressive winning margin of 6’41 over eventual second runner-up Frederick Feliciano as Davadilla, choosing not just to coast along, rode ferociously to cheers from his friends and supporters.
"Nagtodo pa rin ako para sa mga tao," said Davadilla, who only slowed down in the last few meters as Enrique Domingo and Edwin Paragoso raised his arms as they crossed the finish line.
PLDT assistant skipper Arnold Marcelo outsprinted five riders to the finish in front of the Raja Sulayman Park in Malate to gain top honors in the closing stage.
At the end of the Golden Tour, which started in Marikina, went down south to Tagaytay and up north to Vigan then back to Manila, Nilo Estayo and Raul Sembrano also went up the podium as the Sprint King and Top Rookie, respectively. Both earned P30,000 each.
Finishing behind Davadilla and Feliciano in the Top 10 in the overall individual championship were deposed champion Rhyan Tanguilig (13’25 behind), Sherwin Diamsay (18’49), Johnny Dasalla (21’04), Danny Ganigan (24’02), Arnel Quirimit (24’27), Alvin Benosa (26’56) and Darwin Marana (29’06).
Earlier, Davadilla copped the King of the Mountain honors in Baguio then led his Colt 45 team to the team overall championship in Angeles City.
With all these awards plus his three stage wins and eight days of successful defense of the yellow jersey, Davadilla easily emerged the top money-maker in this tour with net earnings of no less than P250,000.
Valenzuela councilor Jerry Esplana said he’ll file a resolution in the city council to recognize Davadilla for making the city proud and another resolution that could provide the champion rider a cash incentive.
Incidentally, Davadilla (from Brgy. Gen. T. de Leon) became the third cyclist from Valenzuela to win the tour after Antonio Arzala (from Ugong) in 1955, 56 and 59 and Reynaldo Dequito (Canumay) in 1987. Davadilla was still based in Malabon when he won his first title at 23.
At 31 next year, Davadilla said he would need longer preparation and to be more disciplined to get a chance at becoming only the second rider in tour history to win three titles after Arzala.
Davadilla prepared very well for this tour that he held on to the yellow jersey since he grabbed the overall lead in Stage Two from Lucena to Tagaytay via the treacherous Sungay Zigzag. He kept the yellow jersey for a record 14 days when he reigned supreme in 1998.
"Tapos na ang prime ko. Kailangan ko na ng mahabang preparation para magkaroon ako ng tsansang i-depensa ang korona next year," said Davadilla.
But to many, Davadilla has etched his name alongside the Arzalas, the Sumaldes and the Padillas with this second crown.
Davadilla became the ninth rider to win two titles after Antonio Arzala, Jose Sumalde, Cornelio Padilla Jr., Jesus Garcia Jr., Manuel Reynante, Jacinto Sicam, Carlo Guieb and Renato Dolosa. Next year, he has a chance to become only the fifth rider to make a successful title defense after Arzala (55-56), Sumalde (64-65), Padilla (66-67), Sicam (81-82) and Guieb (93-94).
"Para sa akin, isa na siya sa mga greatest riders dahil may dalawa syang title. Yung isa nakuha nya kahit may edad na sya. At sa edad niya, nakapagpakita pa rin siya ng great strength at consistency," said tour manager Paquito Rivas, tour champion in 1979.
At 30, Davadilla is believed to be the oldest to win a title since Rivas topped the 1979 tour at 31.
Davadilla said his first championship was sweet but the second was sweeter. "Mas masarap ito dahil bago ang panlasa," he said.
A silver medal winner in the Vietnam SEA Games in 2003, Davadilla was given only 10 days to rest then he needs to report back with the national team in their training center in Tagaytay.