Success at Mount Samat propels Felipe to overall lead

PILAR, Bataan—Marcelo Felipe mastered the brutal climb to the summit and the cycling ace from 7Eleven Cliqq Air21 by Road Bike Philippines zoomed to the top of the PRURide PH 2019.

Felipe glistened in sweat as he fiercely attacked the final 7.5-kilometer ascent and wound up a close second in the lap behind stage winner Brendon Davids of Oliver’s Real Food Racing to seize the overall lead.

“Our goal is to retain the overall lead and watch out for Davids in [Sunday’s] final stage,” said Felipe, after the hot and punishing 164.5-km ride from Harbour Point in Subic to the peak of Mount Samat here.

Felipe is ahead by 47 seconds over Davids, who clocked four hours and 40.55 seconds to jump to second in the GC.

Australian Michael Vink checked in third in the stage that featured four climbs capped by the long mountainous trek.

The hill specialist from St. George Continental Cycling Team, however, is four minutes behind Felipe going into the last stage, a 108-km course with eight low-level climbs.

“It’s going to be a technical race. We have to work as a team and help Felipe protect the lead,” said 7Eleven Cliqq RBP headcoach Ric Rodriguez.

Stage 1 winner Ismael Grospe of Go For Gold Philippines Continental Cycling Team wasn’t able to keep up with the lead group that cut loose from the peloton early in the race. Taking his place in the best young rider race was teammate Daniel Ven Carino.