Ronda Pilipinas Stage 2 winners Jan Paul Morales (middle), Rudy Roque (right) and third-placer Cris Joven.
VIGAN, Ilocos Sur—Jan Paul Morales won yesterday’s back-breaking criterium race on the cobblestone pathways of historic Calle Crisologo here but Navy-Standard Insurance teammate Rudy Roque kept the overall leader’s red jersey in the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2017.
Morales, well-augured to rule this year’s edition, clocked one hour, 11 minutes and 44 seconds together with five other riders to rule the 2.7-kilometer route on the side streets of this Unesco world heritage site.
Roque placed second on the stage and arrived with third-placer Cris Joven of Kinetix-Lab Philippine Army followed by Jaybop Pagnanawon of Bike Extreme, Roel Quitoy of Mindanao and Army’s Ronnilan Quita.
“Hopefully, I could hold onto the overall lead after the third stage,’’ said Roque, who leads teammate and Stage 1 winner Ronald Lomotos by 20 seconds for the general classification plum.
Running third overall is fellow Navyman Archie Cardana, 41 seconds behind, while Ismael Grospe Jr. of Go For Gold lay fourth, 2:28 back, in the 14-stage race supported by MVP Sports Foundation, Petron, Mitsubishi, Versa.ph, Partas, Maynilad, Standard Insurance, CCN, Bike Xtreme, NLEX, PhilCycling and 3Q Sports Event Management.
Overall, Pagnanawon, son of 1986 Tour champion Rolando, placed fifth, 3:41 behind, Navy’s Jay Lampawog remained at sixth (3:53), Ryan Serapio of Ilocos Sur moved up to seventh (3:54), Jonel Carcueva of Go For Gold eighth (3:57), Quitoy ninth (3:58) and Army’s Alvin Benosa 10th (4:05).
The Ronda takes a two-day break as the entourage travels to Angeles City for Stage 3 on Wednesday, the first hilly lap that the 96 surviving riders from 12 team will encounter. CBB