Galedo hurdles vital test; Calderon scores

BAGUIO, Philippines  – Road Bike’s Mark Galedo survived the first of two tough mountain laps leading to a dream LBC Ronda crown, bucking a furious, spirited bid by American Vinyl-LPGMA’s Irish Valenzuela with a strong third place finish in Stage 12 here yesterday.

Valenzuela, the reigning Ronda King of the Mountain, struck in the mountain passes and checked in with eventual lap winner Joel Calderon of V-Mobile with the same time of two hours, 56 minutes, 10 seconds.

But Galedo, winner of Tour of Luzon three years ago, proved up to the task, pouring it all out in the final stretch and winding up third in the stage that started from hot Lingayen and ended up in this cool mountain-top city in 2:58.07. He came two minutes behind Valenzuela to keep his grip of the overall lead with a total time of 45:23.53.

“I knew he’s (Valenzuela) close to the finish line so I tried my best not let him take that much time from me, that’s why I doubled my effort approaching the tunnel,” said Galedo, who seized the red jersey in the Lucena-Antipolo Stage Nine, in Filipino.

Though he failed on his bid to snatch the overall lead, Valenzuela, winner of the multi-stage Tour of Camsur last year, succeeded in vaulting from No. 6 to No. 2 after the 96.7km stage, just 51 seconds off the pace with a clocking of 45:24.44.

“I knew if I didn’t make my move now, I’ll have no chance of winning this race so I’m glad I did,” said Valenzuela. “Although I didn’t get the overall lead as I’ve thought so, I’m still happy I’m really close behind.”

The short but equally tough 27.4km Stage 13 or the individual time trial to Baguio, via Kennon Road, today will thus serve as the deciding lap both Galedo and Valenzuela in a duel of mountain climbers.

But Galedo is more than ready to take on Valenzuela’s challenge head-on with the former topping this same stage to overhaul a four-minute deficit and posted a five-minute lead in ruling the seven-stage Liquigaz-LPGMA Tour of Luzon in 2009.

Galedo also has an impressive record in time trials, having snared a bronze medal in the 50.7km individual time trial in last year’s SEA Games in Indonesia.

“I won here before and I also have experience in time trials after I won a bronze in the SEA Games last year so I guess I have a very strong chance to protect my lead,” said Galedo.

Valenzuela, for his part, will rely heavily on his climbing skills, having won two KOM (King of the Mountain) awards while reigning supreme in the challenging Manila-to-Baguio race four years ago.

“It will be speed for speed and strength for strength tomorrow (today),” said Valenzuela, who has three podium finishes this year – a lap win and two runners-up efforts. He is also just a few points away from clinching his second KOM crown.

“I did not come this close only to blow my chance, I will give it all tomorrow (today),” he added.

Calderon, runner-up here last year and the 2010 Tour winner, sprang back to life and barely edged Valenzuela for his first podium finish in this 15-stage, 20-day race presented by LBC Express, Inc. as he moved up to No. 8 overall with 45:31.13.

Calderon, with teammates Oscar Rindole and Rey Martin, helped carry V-Mobile back to the top of team competition with a cumulative clocking of 135:20.27 ahead of American Vinyl-LPGMA (135:25.32), Navy A-Standard (135:27.39) and fromer leader Metro Manila (135:30.51).

Over two minutes behind in the individual race were Navy A-Standard’s Lloyd Lucien Reynante at No. 3 with 45:26.09, Rindole at No. 4 with 45:27.06 and American Vinyl-LPGMA’s Cris Joven at No. 5 with 45:27.21.

Army-RC Cola’s John Rene Mier also barged into the top 10 with a time of 45:32.27 for ninth place while snatching the lead in the Young Rider category after a fourth place finish.

East Pangasinan’s Harvey Sicam at No. 6 with 45:29.27, Road Bike’s Baler Ravina at No. 7 with 45:29.33 and Martin at No. 10 with 45:35.30 rounded up the top 10.

Last year’s first Ronda millionaire champion, Santy Barnachea of Navy A-Standard, faded in the ascent and slid from No. 8 and way, way down to No. 18 that practically ended his hopes of becoming the Tour’s first ever four-time champ.