Cebuanos rule Hilongos cycling

Antonio Nebria of Talisay City was the biggest winner as Cebuano pedal-pushers dominated the 2005 Hilongos Pedal Tour the other day.

Nebria won the 7.5-kilometer circuit race in the morning, outsmarting some veterans and upcoming road racers in the elite class.

Judmar Villarosa came out second while three times Tour Pilipinas campaigner Robert Villaver wound up third.

In the beginner's class, it's a 1-2-3 finish for the Cebuanos with Haylin Bardaje winning the first place and John Rey Jaca and Michael Pantonial as the second and third placers, respectively.

In the mountainbike discipline, another Cebuano Norman Navarro outpedalled Tacloban's Ted Tabuyan for the elite division's first place as Hindang's Ruben Basañez ended third.

The beginner's class had Carigara's Filomino Amago crossing the finish line first while Jojo Tanael was second and Hilongos' Romeo Ollaves at third place.

In class C, Hilongos mountainbiker reigned with Roel Zarate on top and trailed by his cousin Randy Zarate as Peter Hermano grabbed third place.

In the bmx discipline,Tacloban's Chris Tolivas came out first, Carigara's Ricardo Adoctante at second place and Jimmar Sanchez settling third.

After the circuit race, the Hilongos Bikers' Club proceeded with the toughest test for the road racers which is the individual road race competition covering 102 kilometers.

The race was rough and tough, but Jaybop Pagnanawon was able to breakaway from the pack, five kilometers away from the finish line.

Pagnanawon never looked back and won the elite class title.

While Pagnanawon was on his own, the second place a neck-to-neck battle between Antonio Nebria and Richard Navarro.

Nebria utilized his experience well to outsprint Navarro to win first runner up.

In the beginner's class, the Cebuanos swept it through the effort of Darwin Limbaga, the first placer and trailed by Jocel Villaver and Jun-Jun Canasa of Talisay.

A total of 107 riders joined the race, the most number of participants in the past 12 years of racing in Hilongos.