Carrera rules Stage 5; Feliciano climbs to 2nd

VIGAN, Philippines – Sherwin Carrera and Frederick Feliciano launched their attack early and sustained their pace to the finish to emerge the day’s biggest gainers in the fifth stage of the 2009 Padyak Pinoy Tour of Champions ending here.

Carrera won stage honors in the bumpy 140km ride from San Fernando, La Union while Feliciano checked in third with the same clocking of 3:05’18.571 to emerge as the new threat to MVP yellow jersey holder Santy Barnachea.

“We’re able to get ourselves in a good position right in the neutral run. We attacked right at the flag-off and rode as one to the finish,” said Feliciano of their breakthrough that moved him three rungs up to second place, one minute and 33 seconds behind Barnachea.

The three-day overall individual leader, who finished with the main pack, rued the lack of support from his Air21 teammates and Pangasinan provincemates after the race.

“Nagsimula na ang Kalbaryo ko. My godfather Jess Garcia told me my fellow Pangasinenses would be there to help me. It turned out they’re the ones challenging me,” said Barnachea.

“My brother Larry and brother-in-law Enrique Domingo were the only ones who lent me some help. No one was even willing to spare me water,” Barnachea said. “Now, I’ve realized I have to fend for myself if I were to keep the yellow jersey all the way to the finish.”

Barnachea said he spent himself defending against Oscar Rindole, Baler Ravina and Lloyd Reynante, unaware Feliciano had peeled away from the peloton just a few kilometers into the race.

“I only came to know that Eric’s not with us anymore on the time board being flashed to us. We’re almost three minutes behind then, and I had to work practically all by myself to narrow the gap,” Barnachea said.

Barnachea said Ravina, running third halfway through the eight-stage summer spectacle presented by Tanduay with Air21 and Smart-PLDT as major sponsors, was his mortal enemy in this particular stage.

“He didn’t take the pace. He would just ride behind me then would launch an attack. He kept on doing that throughout the race,” said Barnachea.

Barnachea, Rindole, Ravina, Reynante, Joel Calderon, Renate Sembrano and Warren Davadilla all checked in with the main pack, thus, keeping their distances with one another in the Top 10.

Irish Valenzuela, the Stage Two winner, was with Carrera, Feliciano, Pepito Calosa and Orly Villanueva in their successful breakaway move.