American Vinyl back in contention

MANILA, Philippines - American Vinyl-LPGMA coach Renato Dolosa bravely announced they would make the move in the Bicol stages.

He wasn’t joking.

Executing their plan to perfection, American Vinyl-LPGMA spearheads Cris Joven and Irish Valenzuela came through with strong efforts in Stage 8. Joven finished joint third to snatch the red and leader’s jersey while Valenzuela finished second behind lap winner Sherwin Diamsay.

Their efforts carried American Vinyl-LPGMA from eighth to sixth place and a legitimate chance of retaining the team title. 

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From 85 going into this stage, the cast was reduced to 79 after six riders, Cebu’s Jaybop Pagnanawon and Marvin Tapic, Road Bike’s Ericson Obosa and John Mark Camingao, Southern Luzon-Bicol’s Nelson Mangahis and Phl Under-23’s Kelvin John Mendoza either did not finish or failed to make the time cut. The original number of participants was 96.