ANTIPOLO CITY—There’s no stopping Jan Paul Morales from transforming the LBC Ronda Pilipinas Luzon into his own playground.
After toying with his rivals in the first two stages, the sprint specialist from Philippine-Navy Standard Insurance fended off his challengers anew with another solo breakaway performance in yesterday’s Stage 3.
Morales, who topped the opening stage in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, and the second stage in Tagaytay City, pulled off the first three-successive lap wins in Ronda’s six-year existence by completing the two-kilometer criterium race at the famed Hinulugang Taktak in one hour, eight minutes and 25.81 seconds.
“I’ve never felt this strong. This is my best year and I feel good,” said the 30-year-old from Marikina, after increasing his lead in the general classification (GC) with 45 points.
George Oconer of LBC-MVP Sports Foundation moved up to second overall from third place (31 points) after giving Morales a tough fight before fading in the final two laps.
He arrived seven seconds behind the stage winner with LBC-MVPSF’s Rustom Lim checking in 13 seconds back and falling to third overall with 29 points.
Navy’s John Mark Camingao won a two-man sprint with Lim to finish third for the day, 12 seconds slower than Morales.
Morales said only a disastrous run in the remaining two stages could prevent him from winning the Luzon GC.
“All I need to do is finish the race,” said Morales, also the Mindanao leg champion.
Stage 4 is a 94.41 km ascent from Dagupan City to Baguio tomorrow.