Davadilla flashes old form in LPGMA test run

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Premiere Cycling League (PPCL) had its maiden run over the weekend where the top local riders of the 2010 LPGMA Tour of Luzon set to fire off Feb. 27 warmed up for the foreign-spiced, nine-day race.

Warren Davadilla summoned his old form and topped the LPGMA Tour of Luzon test run Sunday over 35 other riders in a five-loop classic, covering 30 kilometers on Macapagal Avenue in Pasay City.

The two-time Tour champion surged in the last 20 meters and towed a big group with similar clockings of 42 minutes and 35 seconds. Liquigaz-American Vinyl’s Hilson Mangahis, Tots Tonido and Cris Joven finished second to fourth.

Completing the top 10 were Jayboy Pagnanawon, Lloyd Reynante, Joseph Millanes, Julius Diaz, Irish Valenzuela and Jayson Gregorio of the race sanctioned by PhilCycling headed by Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham Tolentino.

In the kick-off stage of the PPCL executive races which attracted over 200 cyclists, LPGMA ruled the team time trial (51 minutes, 54 seconds) followed by Fitness First (52.09) and Polo Tri (53 minutes).

The top 10 individual winners were David Verlee of Polo Tri, Manny Rubio of Aboitiz, Fitness First’s Maiqui Dayrit, LPGMA’s Philip Angtuaco, Anthony Dee (Fitness First), Franzia’s Jimmy Cadena, PLDT’s Norberto Daa, Yellow Cab’s Rocky Lim and Alex Billan (Franzia).

It was a historic day for Philippine cycling as the PPCL introduced the use of the transponder – a state-of-the-art clocking device used in international races such as the Tour de France.

LPGMA president Arnel Ty, whose group is running for a partylist seat in the House of Representatives, said the transponder would also be used in the multi-stage Tour where 10 local teams of six riders each would be pitted against seven foreign cycling clubs.

Ty said the nine-day LPGMA Tour of Luzon is included in the year-round calendar of the 25-stage PPCL, which is scheduled to hold races for executive and elite riders every month.

Bernard Luzon will lead the fight for Team Liquigaz, Albert Primero for LPGMA, Elmo Ramos for The Beacon and Hilson Mangahis for American Vinyl while former Tour champion Arnel Quirimit will be PCSO’s skipper.

Other teams which signed up for the Tour featuring six circuit races and three road competitions are Batang Tagaytay, Pagcor, Smart/Rudy Project, Burlington and Happy Nuts.

Stage One will be held on Macapagal Avenue before the Tour jumps to Daang Hari, Cavite (Individual Time Trial) and Nuvali, Sta. Rosa, Laguna (criterium).

The caravan then proceeds to Clark, Pampanga (criterium), Clark to Subic (road), Subic (criterium), Tagaytay (road), Matabungkay (road) and ends up at the Ayala Triangle (criterium).