Rustom Lim wins Stage Four of the 2016 Ronda Pilipinas. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
BAGUIO CITY—Rustom Lim spiced up the daily grind in the 2016 Ronda Pilipinas Luzon leg.
The 22-year-old climber from Guimba, Nueva Ecija somehow changed the complexion of the race after conquering the Cordilleras with a dramatic victory in yesterday’s penultimate fourth stage.
Lim, who rides for LBC-MVP Sports Foundation, swallowed the lead pair of Lloyd Reynante and El Joshua Carino of Navy-Standard Insurance in the final ascent and zoomed ahead with 2.5 kilometers left for a solo-breakaway finish in two hours, 48 minutes and 16.99 seconds.
Though still trailing overall leader Jan Paul Morales of Standard Insurance in the general classification, Lim set up the stage for a thrilling encounter in today’s 2.7-kilometer criterium finale here at Burnham Park.
“There’s still hope. I have to be in top shape tomorrow (Saturday) to win it,” said Lim, who climbed a notch to second overall with 44 points, just eight points behind Morales.
Carino placed second for the day and Reynante, crowned king of the mountain after topping the KOM challenge at the Lion’s head, ended up third, each of them 1:27 behind Lim.
Lim bolted away from the peloton entering the final climb, leaving behind Morales and a slew of contenders, including Navy’s Jhon Mark Camingao and LBC-MVPSF teammate George Oconer, to chase down the lead group.
“I attacked when I came close to them (Reynante and Carino). They didn’t react, so I took the chance and sped away,’’ said Lim after claiming a breakthrough win in a Baguio stage. He placed second thrice in the same high-altitude lap in previous races.
Despite checking in fifth for the day, Morales’ confidence remained sky-high in taking home the individual crown.
“I believe It’s already mine,’’ said Morales, the Mindanao leg champion who won the first three stages here in Luzon.
Racing high-speed on undulating roads on Saturday’s race favors Morales, a sprint and time trial specialist.
Overall, Oconer is running third with 40 points, followed by Camingao (31 points), Carino (23), Ronald Lomotos (21), Reynante (19), Joel Calderon (16), Ronnilan Quita (15) and Rudy Roque (14).
Lim needs to win the final lap worth 15 points and hope Morales ends up not higher than sixth place in the stage to steal the GC title.