Pareja, Carcueva road kings

Nichol Pareja and Jonel Carcueva emerged victorious after Friday’s grueling men’s road race of the PhilCycling National Championships that finished in Tagaytay City.

Pareja ditched the peloton in a lung-busting 400-meter climb in Agoncillo, before widening the gap at the ascending Sungay Road separating Tagaytay from Talisay City, Batangas, to rule the Elite class of the race. Carcueva, meanwhile, finished first among all the Under-23 riders.

“When I saw the opportunity, I didn’t let it slip away,” said Pareja, riding for 7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines, after arriving at Tagaytay’s Praying Hands Monument—where the race also started—in three hours, 19 minutes and 54 seconds.

Marcelo Felipe, Pareja’s teammate, wheeled in 14 seconds later for the silver. Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance’s Jhon Mark Camingao crossed the finish a split second behind a tad behind Felipe to complete the podium.

Carcueva, riding for Scratch It!, finished fifth overall in the race to rule the Under 23 class in 3:20:11.401. INQ