Ronda Luzon leg hits road Sunday

GEORGE Oconer vows to put up a strong showing when the Luzon leg of the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2016 fires off Sunday at Paseo de Santa Rosa in Laguna.

One of the heavy favorites to contend in the general classification of the multistage cycling race, Oconer failed to meet expectations and wound up 11th overall in the recent Visayas leg after a strong runner-up finish last year.

“I will give it my best to do better this time,” said Oconer, son of 1992 Barcelona Olympian Norberto Oconer.

Rustom Lim, also from LBC-MVP, will join forces with Oconer for the LBC-MVP Sports Foundation squad and rookie Ronnilan Quita in a bid to challenge Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance this time.

Navy took the team overall honors in the Mindanao and Visayas legs with John Paul Morales dominating the GC in Mindanao and Ronald Oranza ruling the Visayas leg.

The Navymen seemed determined to sweep the awards in this year’s Ronda as they remain intact going to the five-stage Luzon race.
From the Paseo Stage 1 criterium, the race will proceed to Talisay City, Batangas, for the second stage, an individual time trial that will end in Tagaytay City.