PILI, Camarines Sur—Jaybop Pagnanawon’s lifelong dream was to follow the footsteps of his father, 1986 Marlboro Tour champion Rolando.
The 28-year-old admitted he may not realize his dream in this year’s LBC Ronda Pilipinas, but he’s still happy to win Sunday’s fifth stage—the longest leg this year covering 251 kilometers from Lucena City to Camsur Watersports Complex here.
Raising his right hand in victory as he crossed the finish line, Pagnanawon completed a brave solo breakaway starting from the final 30 kilometers.
It hardly made a difference in the overall classification though as Pagnanawon remained 40 minutes off the red jersey wearer, Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance’s Rudy Roque.
Kinetix Lab-Army’s Cris Joven finished seventh in the stage, 1:07 off Pagnanawon. But he gained in the overall standings, jumping from ninth to fifth to be 3:02 behind Roque.
The fifth stage skipped the dreaded zigzag road “Tatlong Eme” in Atimonan, Quezon, because of road constructions and rainy conditions.
“I’d like to follow Papa’s footsteps,” said Jaybop who was forced to stop training for a year and a half to moonlight as bikers’ guide in order to support his four children.