SINGAPORE—Ronald Oranza had the gold medal in sight Sunday until the Malaysians came along and seized it.
Sprinting ahead of the pack in the final kilometer, Oranza had nothing more to give when the speeding pack overtook him at the final turn and left him empty-handed in the men’s road race of the 28th Southeast Asian Games.
READ: Cycling gold double eludes Salamat
Oranza, a consistent podium finisher in the professional Ronda Pilipinas bikathon back home, wound up 18th overall with a similar clocking as the champion, Malaysia’s Mohd Harrif Saleh.
The 26-year-old Malaysian negotiated the rain-marred 140-kilometer course that began and ended at Gardens By The Bay in three hours, 19 minutes and 33 seconds along with 26 other riders, including George Oconer (15th), Rustom Lim (18th) and Oranza.
READ: PH champion Salamat misses chase for 2nd gold in SEA Games cycling
Vietnam’s Van Duan Le won the silver and Malaysian Anuar Manan checked in third.
“Riders from Malaysia and Vietnam suddenly appeared at the final bend and with only George and I in front, we weren’t able to counter their attack,” said Oranza, a former bike mechanic from Villasis, Pangasinan.
READ: SEA Games: Salamat pedals her way to cycling gold