Joven tops Stage 2, grabs overall lead

SILANG, Cavite—Cris Joven broke away from the lead pack with just three kilometers to the finish to solo it home for the Stage 2 victory and the overall lead in the Ronda Pilipinas International 2014 here.

The 27-year-old rider from 7-Eleven Continental Cycling Team clocked four hours, 58 minutes and 46 seconds over the punishing 181.8 km ride from Muntinlupa City to this hilly Cavite town.

“It’s always a big dream for me to win the overall (title),” said Joven, who twice raced in bikathons as deputy to defending champion Irish Valenzuela. “I’m in good shape.”

Reimon Lapaza of Cycleline Butuan Mindanao placed second in the stage, 28 seconds behind Joven, and Peter Pouly of Infinite Singha Cycling Team clinched third, 1:02 back.

Joven grabbed the red jersey of overall leadership from Stage 1 winner Jason Christie of CCN Continental and will set out in Monday’s Stage 3 a slim two seconds in front of Lapaza.

Joven, Lapaza and Pouly charged ahead of the peloton after the first climb in Puerto Azul and kept their fiery pace through the rolling hills of Ternate.

Stage 2 then took the riders to seaside roads in Punta Fuego and more hilly, narrow stretches in Alfonso, Cavite, where the breakaway trio began building an insurmountable lead.

“I guided the pack for over 70 kilometers and sprinted in the last kilometer,” said Joven, the sprint king from Iriga City. In the chase group, Mark Galedo of 7-Eleven Continental and three other riders—Marcelo Felipe of Roadbike Philippines, Cycleline’s Vicmar Vicente and 7-Eleven’s Mark Bordeos—inexplicably took a wrong turn in Magallanes town on the way to Alfonso.

Galedo, the 2012 champion, eventually finished more than 10 minutes off the lap winner. Valenzuela finished 5:10 behind Joven at 10th spot.

Monday’s stage is another rough ride from Amadeo, Cavite, to San Pablo City—a 144.4 km challenge made daunting by a Category 3 climb in Cuenca, Batangas, about 50 km to the finish.

Stage Individual Classification: 1. Joven, Cris (7EL) 4:58:46; 2. Lapaza, Riemon (CBM) 00:28 behind; 3. Pouly, Peter (ISC) 1:02; 4. Yasuhara, Daiki (MPT) 3:54; 5. Oranza, Ronald (PMP) 4:03; 6. Ramos, Merculio (CBM) same time, 7. Calderon; Joel (PNS) 4:05; 8. Rindole; Oscar (CAF) same time, 9. Barnachea, Santy (PNS) 4:08; 10. Valenzuela, Irish (PAR) 5:10.