INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines--Veteran Nilo Estavo sprinted his way to victory in the Elite Open division of the Roadbike Phils.-711 2009 Manila Criterium Grand Prix second leg raced under very hot conditions along Roxas Boulevard last weekend.

Ranged against another star-studded field, the former national rider and pride of Pozurrobio, Pangasinan, came from behind with a torrid run in the last two laps to nip Ronnel Hualda and Lito Atilano and pocket the top prize of P7,000.

Hualda and Atilano finished second and third, respectively.

?The lead pack was way ahead so I had to pour it on in the last two laps,? Estayo said in Filipino.

The former Padyak Pinoy sprint king added it was no mean feat considering that established riders like Victor Espiritu and Arnel Quirimit and seven others were in the lead pack before he made his move.

Sharing the spotlight in the leg dubbed the Johnson Ang Memorial Race was sportsman-businessman Alex Billan, who topped both the Filipino-Chinese and 36 to 45-year-old divisions in the bikefest named in honor of his late father.

A surprise runner-up in the Fil-Chi category was Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers? Association president Arnel Ty, who gave Billan a run for his money until the last 100 meters to the finish line.

Billan also copped sprint honors in both divisions that he won.

Other winners were George Oconer, son of national coach and former Tour veteran Norberto Oconer, in the under-25 category, Dwight Carbajal (above 56), Arnel Aves (26 to-35), and Ruel Gendrano (46 to 55).

Over 300 riders saw action in the races, according to events director Ric Rodriguez.