Morales completes Ronda domination

MALAYBALAY, Bukidnon—From perennial role player to premier rider.

This summed up the journey of Jan Paul Morales of Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance to the zenith of local cycling’s centerpiece event after being crowned the first champion of the 2016 Ronda Pilipinas Mindanao leg.

The 31-year-old Marikina City ace only needed to finish yesterday’s fifth and final stage—a 46.93-kilometer criterium within the city’s confines—to complete his transformation from the team’s most reliable sprint specialist to leg champion.

“I’ll remember this race as the most special moment in my career,” said Morales of his first major Tour victory.

El Joshua Cariño, also of Navy, ruled the stage in a solo sprint finish in one hour, eight minutes and 26 seconds. Navy team captain Lloyd Lucien Reynante placed second and Rudy Roque third, both of them 11 seconds behind Cariño.

Donning the red jersey, Ronda’s symbol of leadership, for the fourth straight day, Morales arrived with a large wave of riders, including teammate Ronald Oranza who clocked a minute less than Cariño.

“I dedicate this win to my family,” said Morales, referring to wife Lennie and their two children. He earned a total of P116,000.

Morales surged to the overall lead right in the opening stage of the five-lap bikathon in Butuan City last week and never looked back.

Overall, Morales compiled a total of 55 points followed by Oranza (42 points), Reynante (42), Daniel Ven Cariño (35), Roque (34), E. Carino (26) and Joel Calderon (25).