Morales bags 2016 Ronda Luzon leg title

BAGUIO CITY—Jan Paul Morales flaunted his might in another high-speed chase and ruled yesterday’s final stage to clinch the 2016 Ronda Pilipinas Luzon leg title.
“From the start, I knew I have the ability to win,” said the soft-spoken Navy-Standard Insurance rider in Filipino while cradling the general classification trophy. “This is my best year, I’m in top shape.”
The 30-year-old Morales, a sprint expert, soloed it home in the fifth stage—a 2.7-kilometer criterium ride on the streets of the famed Burnham Park—with a clocking of 1 hour, 7 minutes and 16.59 seconds.
Rustom Lim of LBC-MVP Sports Foundation ferociously chased Morales in the last two laps but couldn’t duplicate his fourth stage victory Friday to wind up second for the day, 38 seconds behind the winner.
Ronald Lomotos of LBC-MVPSF also made it to the podium at third after crossing the line 39 seconds later.
Morales, the Mindanao leg champion, compiled 67 points to complete a double victory in this year’s triple-leg Ronda. He earned P166,000.