TARLAC CITY—Young gun Rustom Lim exploded in a burst of power in the final 200 meters to take Stage 4 honors Tuesday as former champion Santy Barnachea successfully defended his overall lead in the Ronda Pilipinas 2015 presented by LBC.
The longest stage of the race—all 199 kilometers under intense heat—saw a big group of lead pack going into the final 17 km. But it was 21-year-old Lim, a native off Guimba, Nueva Ecija, who pulled way for the stage victory just two bikes away from the chasing peloton.
“I think they were all tired, so in the last 200 meters I decided to make a move,” said Lim, who finished solo in front of the Tarlac Provincial Capitol building after four hours, 43 minutes and 41 seconds.
Riding for PSC-National team, Lim finished third in the 2011 Thailand Asian Cycling Championship. He finished atop the podium several times last year and even won Olongapo stage.
He was part of the main peloton which several times ate up the lead pack, but his stage feat hardly mattered as he was more than 22 minutes behind leader Barnachea.
The 38-year-old Barnachea of Navy maintained his lead, 7:37 clear of second-running George Oconer of PSC-National team, and 8:19 ahead of Army’s Cris Joven.
“It worked according to plan,” said Navy skipper Lloyd Lucien Reynante in Filipino.
The son of legendary Tour champion Maui Reynante, however, didn’t say what their plan is. The powerhouse Navy team has Barnachea and promising talent Ronald Oranza in its fold.
Whatever it is, Navy’s strategy didn’t escape Lim who said: “They are working as a team and they have full support of their leader.” He said their team is focused on helping Oconer as well in the last four stages.
Five Navy riders are currently in the top 10 in the general classification including Jhon Mark Camingao and John Paul Morales.
“We work together, I have all the support of my teammates,” said Barnachea. He was part of the lead pack early in the stage when Junrey Navarra ventured into a solo break away.
“The only person I was watching out for was Cris and Oconer,” said Barnachea in Filipino.
Today’s Stage 5 should favor sprinters: A 138.9-km of flat roads from here to Dagupan City.