DAET, Camarines Norte —Fernando Grijalba arrived with still a week ahead of the kickoff of Le Tour de Filipinas presented by Air21 to check out the course.
Grijalba put his knowledge of the route to great use Monday and topped the 177.35-kilometer third stage of the four-day event from Naga City while moving closer to the overall lead.
The 26-year-old sprinter from Kuwait Cartucho.Es burst out of the pack in a sprint finish for his first career stage win.
“I attacked in the final kilometers because I knew it’s hilly,” said Grijalba, from Laguna de Duero, a small town north of Madrid.
Overall leader Daniel Whitehouse of Terrenganu Cycling Team arrived 1:27 behind a large group of riders, including Filipino Mark Galedo of 7 Eleven-RBP.
Grijalba beat Benjamin Hill of Attaque Team Gusto and Ryu Suzuki of Bridgestone Anchor Cycling at the line. The trio had identical times of four hours, 14 minutes and three seconds.
Fourth overall at the start, Grijalba jumped to second, 23 seconds off Whitehouse. Hill fell to third.