Valenzuela tops race to Baguio
By June Navarro
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 01:32:00 05/05/2008
BAGUIO CITY – Oozing with vigor and energy, Irish Valenzuela conquered the punishing ascent to this city and arrived ahead of other cyclists at Burnham Park as he ruled the Liquigaz Race To The Lion's Head stage of the one-day Manila-Baguio race on Sunday.
Valenzuela bolted away from the lead pack composed of eight riders at the 38-kilometer mark on Kennon Road and pulled away for good at the Lion's Head marker to capture the individual crown of the 247-km Manila-Baguio race.
Valenzuela, who led the RP team to an unprecedented victory in the Tour of Thailand last year following a fourth-place finish in the Southeast Asian Games, also took the King of the Mountain award worth P5,000.
"I gave everything I had when we reached Kennon and made sure that nobody else would threaten me," said the 21-year-old Valenzuela, the youngest cyclist on the RP team roster.
Anticipating a challenge from the seasoned riders, Valenzuela summoned all his strength to sustain the breakaway and soloed it home in six hours, 47 minutes and 57 minutes. He pocketed the P10,000 individual winner's purse.
"I didn't want to engage the veterans in a tight race to the finish," said Valenzuela, the 2006 Padyak Pinoy Rookie of the Year who placed third overall last year.
Underdog Renier Clauna, a teammate of Valenzuela, salvaged second place in 6:49:30 while Joel Calderon wound up third in 6:49:43.
Dante Cagas (6:51.06) and Tomas Martinez (6:52.36) rounded out the Top 5 in the one-day race sponsored by Liquigaz Philippines Corp. and the Liquified Petroleum Gas Marketers Association.
Except for veteran rider Merculio Ramos, no one from among the respected names in the sport that included former Tour champions Warren Davadilla, Arnel Quirimit, Victor Espiritu and Santy Barnachea landed in the Top 10.
The 1-2 finish of Valenzuela and Clauna also rewarded their squad with the team crown worth P75,000. The other members of the champion team were Oscar Rendole, Allan Ricafort, Anthony Miranda, John Ricafort, Edward Nardo and Mark Montemayor.
The winning team was credited with a total clocking of 27:30:56.88 based on the times of the first four riders.
Joseph Millanes, who seized the Sprint King plum worth P5,000, checked in sixth at 6:53:06 followed by Renato Sambrano (6:55:08), Edward Nardo (6:55:20), Ericson Obosa (6:57:10) and Merculio Ramos (6:57:35).
Ramos, the heavy favorite from Tarlac City, led Team 7 to second place in 28:26.38.14 while Team 11 of skipper Emetilano Atilano was third in 29:29:34.36.
Victor Espiritu, who captured the Padyak Pinoy crown last year, landed 20th overall (7:10:31).
Davadilla, Quirimit and Barnachea failed to even make it to the top 20, all fading during the climb through Kennon.
"I feel rusty, I didn't practice for this race," said Davadilla, winner of the last Manila-Baguio race held in 2000.
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