Ryan Tugawin of Excellent Noodles is first the cross the finish line in Stage Seven. RONDA PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines—Ryan Tugawin of Excellent Noodles ruled the Stage Seven stay in the top 10, while Ronald Oranza of Navy Standard Insurance tightened his hold of the overall lead in the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2022 on Thursday.
Tugawin, 32, conquered the mountains of Aurora to finish the 174.5-kilometer stage in in four hours, 31 minutes and 16 seconds.
The seventh stage, which started in front of Tarlac Provincial Capitol and ended at Quezon Park, was the second podium finish for the Solano, Nueva Vizcaya native after he finished third in the Sorsogon-Legazpi Stage Three Saturday.
“I’m happy to win a stage again,” said Tugawin, who last won a stage two years ago in Ronda’s 10th anniversary race.
El Joshua Carino of Navy Standard Insurance placed second with the same clocking, while Marcelo Felipe of Team Nueva Ecija was third with 4:31:18 to also make it to the top 10.
Felipe climbed to No. 5 from No. 11 in 23:28:09, Carino zoomed to No. 6 from No. 12 in 23:29:28 and Tugawin leapfrogged to No. 8 from No. 13 in 23:31:29.
Oranza edged closest foes Jan Paul Morales of Excellent Noodles and Jonel Carcueva of Go for Gold to remain atop the individual race with an aggregate time of 23:18:22. Morales stayed in second with 23:19:04, while Carcueva placed third in 23:21:19.
“I expect to the three of us to guard each other closely the next stage,” said the 29-year-old Oranza.
The 2018 Ronda Pilipinas champion will wear the red LBC jersey on Friday’s 174.4km Baler-Echague, Isabela Stage Eight.
Rounding up the top 10 were Ronald Lomots of Standard Insurance at No. 4 in 23:27:22, Jeremy Lizard of Navy Standard Insurance at No. 7 in 23:29:39, Jericho Jay Lucero and Daniel Ven Carino of Go for Gold at Nos. 9 and 10 in 23:32:13 and 23:33:24, respectively.
Navy Standard Insurance still leads e team race with a clocking of 67:17:49. Excellent Noodles (67:31:05) kept the No. 2 spot followed by Go for Gold (67:43:00).