Joven grabs overall lead; Diamsay rules stage

LUCENA CITY—For somebody who has been hot on the sprint crown all along, Cris Joven surprised just about everybody and even himself after snatching the red jersey of the Ronda Pilipinas yesterday.

The steady all-rounder from LPGMA-American Vinyl vaulted into the overall lead following a major shakeup in the standings at the end of the grueling Stage 8 won by Sherwin Diamsay of One Tarlac.

Starting the day at fourth barely two minutes behind the leader, Joven snapped the five-day run of climber Baler Ravina in red after smartly weaving his way through the 209.2-kilometer course from Naga City to finish close behind Diamsay, who soloed it home in five hours, 16 minutes and 36 seconds.

“I was already satisfied with the blue jersey. I never thought that I would be in red,” said Joven in Filipino, checking in 1:36 after Diamsay with a big wave of riders.

LPGMA-American Vinyl skipper Irish Valenzuela, the king of the mountain leader, arrived 1:26 behind Diamsay, to nail his first podium finish in the 15-stage bikathon, while Cebu’s Nino Surban finished third while towing Joven.

“Since it’s already here, I’ll try to defend the lead as toughly as I can,” added Joven of Iriga City, teary-eyed as he received the red jersey during the awarding ceremony for the stage.

Ravina, who donned the red jersey beginning in Stage 3 in Butuan City, was the biggest casualty yesterday, as he plummeted to 18th overall, 7:47 behind Joven, after finishing 71st in the stage, 11 minutes after Diamsay crossed the line.

“I was exhausted. I think I will never get the red jersey back,” said Ravina.

Stage Individual Classification

1. Diamsay, Sherwin (OTL) 5:16:36, 2. Valenzuela, Irish (AMV) 1:26, 3. Surban, Nino (YFM) 1:36, 4. Ramos, Merculio (OTL) same time, 5. Casayuran, Denver (MML) same time.

Overall Individual Classification

1. Joven, Cris (AMV) 32:49:51, 2. Gorantes, Ronald (MML) 1:33, 3. Rindole, Oscar (VMB) 1:36, 4. Martinez, Tomas (OTL) 2:07, 5. Millanes, Joseph (OTL) 2:17.