MANILA, Philippines - Pangasinan’s Baler Ravina used his experience yesterday to rule the 161-km Tagaytay-to-Marikina opening stage of the Koten PCSO Summer Cycling Classic.
The 28-year-old rider from Asingan, Pangasinan joined an early breakaway group as early as the first 25 kms and stayed in front most of the time.
Ravina had former Marlboro Tour champion Warren Davadilla, Irish Valenzuela, Renato Sembrano, John Mark Guevarra and Bernard Luzon as company in the early part of the race.
And except for some attempts by some of the favored riders – Tomas Martinez, Joel Calderon and Cris Joven – to catch them, the breakaway group was never in trouble.
When they reached Mabitac, Laguna, Ravina, Davadilla and Valenzuela gained more ground by cutting themselves loose from the 24-man breakaway group.
Approaching the dreaded climb in Teresa, Rizal, Ravina, the perennial Padyak Pinoy Eagle of the Mountain awardee, widened the gap between him and his nearest pursuer.
Ravina showed the way until the final two kilometers where Davadilla and young guns Daniel Asto and Dominador Muena tried to close in.
But Ravina proved to be too much for the three aspirants, and he seized the momentum with an amazing push towards the finish line.
The 2007 Padyak Pinoy runner-up finished the race with a time of 4:12.13 – the same time registered by Asto, Davadilla and Muena.
“I was really trying to pace myself. In the final seven kilometers, I was thinking of finishing strong, but I decided to wait for Warren (Davadilla) to make things less of a struggle.
“Then I acted as if I was tired and caught them by surprise with a blitz to the finish,” said Ravina in Filipino.
Valenzuela, Martinez and 2003 Tour champion Arnel Quirimit, Alfred Asuncion and Lord Anthony del Rosario made it to the top 10.
Today’s final lap will be a 151-km race from Marikina to Cabanatuan City.
The two-day event is supported by PhilCycling under Tagaytay City Mayor Bambol Tolentino, Philippine Sports Commission, Triathlon Association of the Philippines, 7-11 Road Bike Philippines, Powerade, Coca-Cola, Viva Mineral Water, Grace of Shekinah School-Bulacan, Franzia Wine, Reli Tours and Travel, and Nueva Ecija Vice Gov. Edward Joson.