TAGAYTAY CITY, Philippines – Irish Valenzuela pounced on fading Baler Ravina in the last five kilometers to rule the elite division of the 7-Eleven Tour 500 Bike Race for Charity which ended here Sunday.
Gaining ground on the narrow and winding 15-km. downhill trek in Talisay, Batangas and then up the steep 8-km. ascent in Sungay, the 24-year-old pride of Asingan, Pangasinan took top honors in the 90.4- km. race from Alabang, Muntinlupa in a time of three hours, 18 minutes and 16 seconds.
Banking on his climbing prowess, Ravina earlier built a 45-second lead over Valenzuela in Sungay, but lost steam and had to settle for second place, nosing out charging Sean Mark Guevarra, as they both clocked 3:18:17.
“Baler lost steam on the ascent and MacMac (Guevarra) and I set the pace going down the flat roads to the finish,” said the Asian Games-bound Valenzuela, who led a 1-2-3 finish of the 7-Eleven-Roadbike Phils. riders.
Valenzuela earned P25,000, Ravina P10,000 and Guevarra P5,000 for placing first to third, respectively, in the event sponsored by Coca-Cola, Del Monte Fit n’ Right, Emperador Brandy, Goya, Kleenex, Kopiko, Nutribar, Pepsi, Pocari Sweat, RC Cola and San Marino.
So dominant were the cyclists of 7-11-RP team manager Bong Sual that they were able to capture seven of the top 10 placings in the elite category of the event also backed by SanMig Coffee, Selecta, Sierra Madre, Smint, Subaru, Sunkist, Twinkee, Unilab, I-ON Energy Drink and Unilever.
“This shows our training regimen is on the right track and we hope that Valenzuela can continue his good performance in the Guangzhou Asian Games,” Sual said after the race.
Sharing the spotlight was Ericsson Obosa, also a 7-11-Roadbike Phils. and national rider, who topped the special sprint stage in Amadeo and pocketed P5,000 courtesy of Amadeo Mayor Benjo Villanueva.
Despite the overcast weather and heavy overnight rains, close to 1,700 riders took part in the Tour 500 ride for-a-cause – an outcome that pleased Philippine Seven president and CEO Jose Victor Paterno.
“While we still see a lot of improvement, we are generally satisfied by the turnout of the race,” Paterno said. “We can see the potential of a cycling event like these.”
Paterno reiterated that prizes in the age group divisions will be go to the chosen charities of the winners as part of PhilSeven’s commitment in helping the needy to celebrate the opening of the 500th 7-Eleven convenience store in the country.
He disclosed that he was earlier worried about the rainy weather “but it was good thing that rains stopped and there were only minor accidents, despite the large field we had.”
Obosa, Rustom Lim and Wilson Mangahis led an early three-man breakaway in Amadeo until they were gobbled up by a 15-man chase group that included Ravina, Guevarra and Valenzuela entering the downhill run in Talisay.