Santy wraps up second title

BAGUIO, Philippines – After mulling retirement from big-time cycling, ageless Santy Barnachea now vows to stay in shape for defense of the Ronda crown.

“Maybe one more,” said the 38-year-old Barnachea, after formalizing his claim on the Ronda Pilipinas crown, becoming the first rider to win the annual race twice.

Barnachea, who also won the Ronda inaugurals in 2011, had wrapped up the championship as early as Friday when he fended off his rivals’ charges with another gritty run to keep his eight-minute lead intact going to yesterday’s final two stages around Baguio.

But the Umingan, Pangasinan native, who also ruled the 2002 Tour of Calabarzon and the 2006 Padyak Pinoy, considered his latest feat as the toughest, winning it at a rather late age against a slew of riders with fresher, stronger legs.

“This has got to be the toughest because I did it as a 38-year-old,” said Barnachea, who was met and hugged by his wife Michelle, his parents Santiago and Virginia and proud Navy-Standard teammates at the finish line.

After the eight-stage, six-day action over about 1,000 kilometers of flat roads and ascents, Barnachea assembled an aggregate clocking of 24 hours and 2.44 minutes, beating George Oconer of PSC-PhilCycling and teammate Jan Paul Morales, who wound up second and third overall in 24:09.41 and 24:10.22, respectively.

While Barnachea banked his second P1 million prize, Oconer and Morales went home with P500,000 and P250,000, respectively.

Rounding up the top 10 were Navy’s Lloyd Lucien Reynante (24:14.45), ZDK’s Edgar Nieto (24:15.10), Army’s Irish Valenzuela (24:16.56), 7-Eleven’s Baler Ravina (24:17.24), Army’s Cris Joven (24:18.18) and Navy’s El Joshua Carino (24:23.04).

Morales, a noted sprinter, shared the spotlight as his third place finish was his best ever effort in a General Classification race.

“It’s redemption for me and I have my teammates to thank for because I wouldn’t have done this without their help,” said Morales, also a silver medalist in the Asian Cycling Championship in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand two weeks ago

Earlier, Morales also won 8.8 individual time trial Stage 7 that ended on top of the Santo Tomas mountain in 28.32 minutes, besting PSC-PhilCycling’s Junrey Navarra (28.46) and fast-rising Roel Quitoy of Negros (29.31). He also took the Petron Sprint King award by a mile.

In the eighth and final lap, Ronald Oranza of Navy ruled the 74.5-km criterium in 1:41.32, edging 7-Eleven’s Dominic Perez (1:41.35) and Navarra (1:41.35) to emerge with the most stage wins, counting his victory in the Calamba-Atimonan Stage Two.

Navarra, meanwhile, crowned himself Mitsubishi King of the Mountain for the third straight year after ruling the Dagupan-Baguio Stage Six Thursday.

The Standard Insurance juniors (Under-23) plum went to Carino while the MVP Sports Foundation top 17-18 year-old award was won by 7-Eleven’s Jay Lampawog.

The race was presented by LBC and supported by major sponsors the Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation, Petron and Mitsubishi and minor sponors Cannondale, Standard Insurance, Tech1 Corp., Maynilad and NLEX and sanctioned by PhilCycling under Cavite Congressman Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino with TV5 and Sports Radio as media partners.