Peter Pouly tames Kennon, zooms to 3rd overall

BAGUIO CITY—High up in the French Alps, Peter Pouly is an icon. Here in the Cordilleras, he’s the king.

France’s five-time mountain bike champion tamed the mammoth climb in the most punishing leg of the Ronda Pilipinas International 2014 and emerged a threat to overall leader Mark Galedo by ruling Stage 9 Monday.

Pouly, who rides for Infinite-Singha Cycling Team, vaulted from eighth to third overall after conquering the first summit finish of the 14-stage bikathon with a time of two hours, 56 minutes and 46 seconds over the 102.1-kilometer stage from Dagupan City.

But the 37-year-old climb specialist downplayed his chances with five crucial stages to go.

“I don’t have a strong team that could support me. I’d be happy to end up third or fourth in the GC (general classification),” said Pouly, who moved within 3:42 of Galedo.

Rustom Lim of PLDT-Maynilad placed second, 1:50 behind Pouly, while Galedo, the 2012 Ronda champion, checked in third, 1:52 off the stage winner.

Pouly slips away Although upset that he let Pouly slip away, Galedo, of 7-Eleven Continental Cycling Team, consoled himself by boosting his lead—14 seconds at the start of the day—to 1:12 over surprise contender Riemon Lapaza of Cycleline Butuan Mindanao.

“He’s (Pouly) really strong,” said Galedo, who kept the overall red jersey for the fourth straight day. “He has a different style and competes on a different level.”

The Thailand-based Pouly, who hails from Toulouse in southwestern France, mastered the tricky uphill challenge on Kennon Road and humbled the finest Filipino riders in the final 10 km climb going to the Baguio Convention Center.

Pouly began to pull away at the Lion’s Head marker with Galedo in hot pursuit along with 2013 Ronda King of the Mountain Junrey Navarra of PLDT Maynilad and Lim, a time trial specialist. “I paced myself but lost my rhythm in the final climb,” said Galedo, a two-time Tour winner.

Overall, Marcelo Felipe of Road Bike Philippines moved up a notch to fourth, 4:54 behind Galedo, George Oconer of Philippine Navy Standard Insurance jumped from seventh to fifth while Santy Barnachea, the 2011 Ronda champion, dropped from fourth to sixth, both 5:55 behind.

Champion rises Ronald Oranza of PLDT Maynilad fell a rung to seventh (7:05 behind), 7-Eleven’s Mark Julius Bordeos slipped from third to eighth (7:41), Lim improved to ninth (9:42) and defending titlist Irish Valenzuela rose to 10th from 14th, 10:51 off the pace.

“I’m going for the KOM (King of the Mountain) jersey and fight for it until the end,” said Pouly, whose lovely Thai wife, Kate, waits for him at every stop.

More punishment After Tuesday’s rest day, more punishment awaits the 65 surviving riders in the next two days.

Wednesday’s Stage 10 is an up-and-down 88.5 km criterium in the summer capital while the 11th stage on Thursday is another torturous 95.8 km ascent, starting this time from San Fernando, La Union, to the City of Pines via Marcos Highway.

Pouly, with 51 points in the KOM race against Lim’s 34, could clinch the title with another solid performance in the 11th stage.

7-Eleven kept the lead in the race for the P1-million team prize but Philippine Navy Standard Insurance (1:22 behind) and PLDT Maynilad (3:02) moved within striking distance.

Stage Individual Classification 1. P. Pouly (ISC) 2:56:46, 2. R. Lim (PMP) 1:50 behind, 3. M. Galedo (7EL) 1:52, 4. J. Navarra (PMP) same time, 5. M. Felipe (RBP) 2:46, 6. R. Lapaza (CBM) same time, 7. J. Calderon (PNS) 2:49, 8. G. Oconer (PNS) same time, 9. J. Ebsen (CCN) 3:13, 10. R. Oranza (PMP) 4:08.