Manila, Philippines - Jay Bop Pagnanawon zoomed home unopposed and ruled the 148 km Visayas elimination race of the 2011 LBC Ronda Pilipinas cycling championshiops recently at Silay, Negros Occidental.
The 23-year-old Pagnanawon completed the race from the Silay Public Plaza to Talisay in five hours, 18 minutes, nine seconds, checking in four seconds in front of fellow Talisay riders Jude Mar Villarosa (5:22:27.6) and Randy Carbonera (5:22:28.6) to lead the Visayas qualifiers for the LBC Ronda Pilipinas slated in September.
The top 12 riders will be divided into two Visayas teams that will join 13 others from Luzon and Mindanao in the 20-day, 12-stage LBC Ronda Pilipinas which stakes a total cash pot of P7 million, with a record P1 million each to the individual and team champion.
Others who made the 12-man cut were Albert Basirgo, Marvin Tapic, Ronald Gorantes, Marjun Villarosa, Romnick Bibit, Leopoldo Japitana Jr., Aldrin Alejado, Fidel Ovas Jr. and Roy Carbonera.
The Mindanao winners are March Mcquinn Aleonor (3:52:03.9), Dexter Nonato (3:52:04.5), Riemon Lapaza (3:52:04.7), Roderick Donillo (3:53:35.7), Engelber Golez (3:52:41.6), Glen Yap (3:56:26.9), Danny Tapao (3:56:30.1). Ronnie Urdaneta (3:58:40.6), Cesar Lapaza (4:01:16.7), John Alberto Gulapa (4:01:17.1), Leo Jake Lopez (4:01:19.7), Leyzander Roseu (4:01:22).
Silay City Mayor Jose Montelibano fired the ceremonial gun and awarded the special prizes of P5,000 to the top finisher, P4,000 to the second, P3,000 to the third and P2,000 to the 12 other qualifiers.
The LBC Ronda Pilipinas, sponsored by LBC Express Inc., the country’s leading remittance and courier company, is billed as the year’s biggest cycling event which will take the riders to a tour of key cities of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
It features the difficult 180km Baguio-to-Baguio race, which could determine the eventual champion with riders negotiating descents on Marcos Highway and Naguilian Road and two climbs on Kennon Road.
Following tradition, the tour ends in the metropolis at the end of a 1,650 journey that kicks off with the Cagayan de Oro stage.
For more information about LBC Ronda Pilipinas log on to www.facebook.com/rondapilipinas or email secretariat@rondapilipinas.com