Navarra, Galedo, Pouly shine in Baguio leg

BAGUIO CITY—Junrey Navarra of PLDT-Maynilad, Mark Galedo and his 7-Eleven team and Peter Pouly of Infinite-Singha shone the brightest to emerge with the most significant gains in Stage 11 of the Ronda Pilipinas International 2014 on Thursday that started down in San Fernando, La Union and ended at the Green Valley here.

Navarra, a pint-sized dynamo from Tupi, South Cotabato, outshone everyone including the big guns as he ruled the 95.8-kilometer stage, considered the toughest lap of this year’s edition of Ronda due to its feared, punishing ascent at Marcos Highway, in two hours, 53 minutes and 47 seconds even though there are three stages remaining—the Agoo-Clark Stage 12 today, Clark-Subic Stage 13 tomorrow and the Marikina criterium final stage on Sunday.

Pouly checked in at second in 2:54:30 while Galedo third 2:54:42 to secure the title they desired the most.

The 36-year-old Frenchman ran away with the King of the Mountain crown as he has now amassed 71 points, a whopping 21 ahead of Galedo with 49, and 23 atop Navarra with 27 after reigning supreme in last Monday’s Dagupan-Baguio Stage Nine and winding up second here.

Galedo, 28, for his part, has kept the overall individual lead he is expected to hang into with the last three stages expected to be of less challenge to him than the Baguio stages.

“It’s his (Galedo) for the taking,” said Pouly.

“Yes, I can feel the title is mine,” said Galedo, who is in the threshold of becoming the first rider to win twice in this annual race presented by LBC, the country’s biggest cargo and courier company, in Filipino.

After 11 stages, Galedo has an aggregate 36:46:48 clocking, over two minutes ahead of overachieving Reimon Lapaza of Cycleline-Butuan Mindanao and less than four minutes atop Pouly, who have times of 36:49:04 and 36:50:16.

Roadbike’s Marcelo Felipe (36:52:08), Navy-Standard’s George Oconer (36:53:25), PLDT-Maynilad’s Ronald Oranza (36:55:52), Navy-Standard’s Santy Barnachea (36:56:12), PLDT-Maynilad’s Rustom Lim (36:57:50), Army’s Irish Valenzuela (37:00:42) and 7-Eleven’s Mark Julius Bordeos (37:01:30) comprised the top 10.

Thanks to strong efforts by Galedo, Cris Joven and former Tour KOM winner Baler Ravina, 7-Eleven has leapt back to the top with a total time of 110:39:05, a day after it was dislodged by Navy-Standard in the Baguio criterium.

PLDT-Maynilad has climbed to No. 2 with 110:39:42, or just 37 seconds off the pace, while Navy-Standard has plummeted to No. 3 with 110:41:27.

“We need to play smart in the last three stages. The last thing we don’t want to do is to celebrate early,” said 7-Eleven manager Bong Sual.

Galedo also got a break after Pouly was slowed down by a punctured tired early in the lap before the latter zoomed his way back to overtake the former in the steeper part of the Marcos Highway ascent.

“It happens to everyone,” said Pouly, who was consoled with a kiss and a hug from his Thai wife Kate at the finish.

The day, however, belonged to Navarra, who upstaged Galedo, Pouly and everyone by snatching the stage that mattered.

“I’m dedicating this win to my family, team and country,” said Navarra, who celebrated his 21st birthday last Feb. 1.

It was the second biggest feat for Navarra, who has given high school education to concentrate on cycling and find ways to help support his family back home, after he also conquered the toughest stage last year—the Solano-Baguio lap where it went through the treacherous backdoor of this cool mountaintop city.

“This is the only way I can support my family,” said Navarra.

Ronda is sponsored by MVP Sports Foundation, Petron, NLEX, Maynilad, PLDT and Mitsubishi, Versa 2 Way Radio and Standard Insurance and minor sponsor Air Asia Zest and C! Magazine, sanctioned by PhilCycling and backed by Shimano Cannondale bikes, the Department of Tourism and Phl National Police chief Allan Purisima.