Calderon tries to fend off pursuers

CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro, Philippines  – Overall leader Joel Calderon of Nueva Ecija hopes to cling on to the lead as he tries to fend off pursuers George Oconer of Phl U-23 team and Rudy Roque of American Vinyl at the resumption of the LBC Ronda Pilipinas today in an out-and-back Stage Four covering 93.7km of narrow stretch made difficult by three Category Four ascents.

But while Oconer and Roque know how far behind they are on Calderon after three stages, those outside the top three had no idea of their clocking, pending the release of the rest of the official results outside the top 3 after the Iloilo-Caticlan Stage Two Wednesday.

They include former Tour champions Santy Barnachea of East Pangasinan, Arnel Quirimit of Jazy Sports Pangasinan and Warren Davadilla of National Capital Region.

Joecel de Guzman, corporate communications head of the sponsoring LBC Express, Inc., said they are straightening out the problems and vowed to get results in time for the next day’s race.

“The results were a bit delayed but the cyclists have a copy of their times during the rest period – well ahead of the fourth stage (Friday) so they can plan their moves for the next stage,” said De Guzman. “We have a few logistical problems which we have already addressed and we are appealing for understanding from our cyclists and the media as we resolve these delays.”

After three stages, Calderon is leading the field with an aggregate time of 14 hours, 16 minutes, 41 seconds. Oconer and Roque are second and third with a clocking of 14:17:15 and 14:18:07, respectively.

Lloyd Lucien Reynante topped the second stage in 4:37:08.8, followed by 7-Eleven’s Irish Valenzuela (4:37:55.5)and the Big City’s Frederick Feliciano (4:37:57.7).

In the team category which stakes P1million to the winner, American Vinyl is leading the way in 42:55:58, followed by 7-Eleven (43:08:23), Nueva Ecija (43:10:30), NCR (43:16:19), Cebu (43:19:17), C&W Pangasinan (43:21:14), Tarlac (43:24:48), Bicolandia (43:26:36), East Pangasinan (43:35:00) and Ilocos Sur (43:44:16).

Based on the provisional results, rounding up the top 10 in the individual race are Barnachea, a two-time titlist who seized the red jersey in Stage Two only to concede it in the next lap, Quirimit, the 2003 winner, American Vinyl skipper Cris Joven, Valenzuela, Cebu’s Jay Bop Pagnanawon, son of 1986 titlist and now coach Rolando, Davadilla, the 1998 and 2005 champ, and Reynante.

Calderon, who came from behind to deny Barnachea a third Tour crown with a victory in the 2009 Tour, said his game plan is to try as much to defend and keep the lead until the end.

“I’m here now, I guess I should do my best to defend and keep it,” said Calderon in Filipino.

Cyclists took advantage of the rest day yesterday to recharge after 10 hours of sea travel.

RONDA NOTES: Reynante was particularly impressed with second generation riders George Oconer of Phl Under-23 team and Jay Bop Pagnanawon of Cebu. “They have strong potential to succeed, they are our best candidates to represent the country in the Tour de France,” he said...The 19-year-old Oconer happens to be the son of 1992 Barcelona Olympics veteran Norberto, and the 23-year-old Pagnanawon has a father named Rolando, the 1986 Tour king...Of course, the 33-year-old Reynante is a second generation racer himself as his father, Maui, won the Tour in 1977 and 1980...Reynante also said his symbolic Stage Three win was extra-special since his father also won the Aklan stage during his reign in 1977.