Champ unsure of defending crown

Just like in his previous triumph, Warren Davadilla may be deprived of a chance to defend his title with the uncertainty of continuation of cycling tour next year.

A PhilCycling official, who requested anonymity, said they’re now looking for a new tour presentor this early with no guarantee that Air21 — Marlboro’s successor as tour presentor — will be back next year.

Apparently, Tanduay has agreed to a "one-shot deal" to save the staging of the tour in its golden anniversary this year.

Still, the Golden Tour 50 @ 05 was nearly cancelled a few days before its kickoff as the riders threatened not to compete with the sponsor trying to further slash the cash prizes. They later agreed to a P2.5 million pot with the individual champion getting P100,000 and the team winner P700,000.

In the previous tour, a grand total of P4.7 million was put at stake with the individual champion earning P200,000 and the team winner P1 million.

Informed of the possible non-staging of the tour next year, Davadilla could only shake his head.

The Valenzuela national rider said he felt bad when he wasn’t able to defend his 1998 championship following the fold-up of the Marlboro Tour the next year.

"I was at my prime. I could have probably won more titles in four years," said Davadilla in Filipino.

But winning another crown at 30, Davadilla cemented his place among the greatest tour champs.

"Long preparation did it. Unlike before I easily get tired now," said Davadilla.

Though saying he’s not durable as before, Davadilla showed great class and versatility in topping the Golden Tour, routing the oppositions in different stages from mountain climbing to sprints and even individual time trial race.

The Airman Second Class won three stages of the 10-stage, 11-day tour, taking top podium honors in the two Tagaytay stops and in the penultimate stage from Baguio to Angeles City.

"It’s amazing what Warren did. In all aspects of the tour, he held his own against top rivals," said race manager Paquito Rivas, himself a tour champ in 1979.

Deposed champion Rhyan Tanguilig also doffed his hat off to Davadilla. "Saludo ako kay Warren. Ang lakas niya," said Tanguilig.

Davadilla, a silver medal winner in the road race event in the 2003 Southeast Asian Games, now hopes his tour triumph serves as a springboard for a gold medal finish in the 2005 SEAG the country in hosting this December.

"We have good chance of winning the gold because of our familiarity with the route," said Davadilla, being groomed to compete in the road race and the criterium event.

Incidentally, Davadilla topped the individual time trial race in the Golden Tour in the very route — Tuy, Batangas to Tagaytay — to be used in the road race event in the SEAG.

Davadilla and the other national riders who competed in the tour are given just 10 days to rest, then they have to report back for training in their Tagaytay training grounds.

The national riders dominated the Golden Tour, ruling all stages except the concluding criterium race topped by Arnold Marcelo. Davadilla also emerged the King of the Mountain and another RP rider Nilo Estayo won the Sprint King honors.