VIGAN, Ilocos Sur, Philippines — George Oconer will be crowned as the new LBC Ronda Pilipinas king today, and his Standard Insurance-Navy squad as team champion.
Racing intelligently, Oconer and the invincible Navymen kept their stranglehold on the individual and team general classification leads to inch closer to ruling the 10th anniversary race.
Kenneth Solis of Team Tarlac topped the 170.6km Stage 9 that started in Pugo, La Union and finished in charming Vigan while Christopher Garado of South Luzon-Batangas and Mar Sudario of Bike Xtreme checked in at second and third on similar times of four hours, 15 minutes and 27 seconds.
Santy Barnachea of Scratch It, the 2011 and 2015 winner, and his nephew, Mervin Corpuz of 7Eleven Cliqq-Air21 by Roadbike Philippines, were part of a six-man breakaway group that included Bryant Sepnio of Celeste Cycles.
But all eyes were on the 28-year-old Oconer, who just stuck with his closest pursuers in the peloton that checked in less than a minute behind in this event presented by LBC and backed by the Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation.
That kept Oconer well entrenched on top with a total time of 31:50:52, ahead of his protective teammates Ronald Oranza (31:52:07), Ronald Lomotos (31:52:10), John Mark Camingao (31:52:45), Junrey Navarra (31:53:09) and El Joshua Carino (31:54:43).
Go for Gold’s Jonel Carcueva (31:56:16), Daniel Ven Carino (31:56:38) and Ismael Grospe Jr. (31:56:40) were at Nos. 7 to 9 while Bicycology-Army’s Marvin Tapic (31:59:38) was at No. 10.
Today’s final stage – a criterium circling this heritage city – is a virtual victory ride for Oconer.
Oconer and the rest of his Standard teammates, who have virtually sealed the overall team crown, profusely thanked Standard Insurance Group chairman Ernesto “Judes” Echauz.
“This is for him (Echauz),” said Oconer, who was runner-up in 2011 and third placer in 2013 – races ruled by Barnachea.
The Navymen have a total clocking of 31:56:38, also setting out for a coronation lap in Stage 10, with Go for Gold and Bicycology both more than half hour behind.