Felipe rules weather-shortened PRURide

SUBIC—Extreme weather conditions put PRURide PH cycling race to a screeching halt Sunday and installed Marcelo Felipe of 7Eleven Cliqq Air21 by Road Bike Philippines outright individual champion.

The third and final stage was scrapped after just 22 of the 90-kilometer lap as torrential rains slammed the 92 surviving riders near Anvaya Cove.

Points were awarded in the first intermediate sprint and king of the mountain challenge early in the route within the heart of the former US naval base and Morong in Bataan, but it hardly made a dent on the overall standings.

Felipe, who grabbed the red jersey of leadership in the second stage Saturday, automatically captured the general classification as well as the KOM and best Filipino rider awards.

“I just want to thank God for a safe race,” said Felipe in Filipino, after gaining several Olympic qualifying points to boost his bid to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“This wouldn’t have been possible without the help of my teammates, coaches and benefactors,” added Felipe, profusely expressing his gratitude to 7Eleven RBP team owners Vic Paterno and cycling patron Bong Sual.

Daniel Ven Carino of Go For Gold Philippines Continental Cycling Team claimed the best young rider plum while second stage winner Brendon Davids of Oliver Food Racing was crowned sprint winner.

“We’re happy and proud of Daniel. He showed great potential in competing against a tough field of foreign and local cyclists,” said Go For Gold godfather Jeremy Go.

Philippine Navy Standard Insurance ruled the team GC and Philippine team categories.

Davids, a 6-foot-3 rider from Durban, South Africa, placed second overall in the GC followed by Michael Vink of New Zealand, Maral-Erdene Batmunkh of Mongolia, Navy’s Junrey Navarra and Jhon Mark Camingao, Aiman Cahyadi of Indonesia, Go For Gold’s Junel Carcueva and Carino.