Visitors rule 'Tour ni Frank' cycling event

Two visiting pedal pushers from Manila ruled the two-day 2007 Cebu LUZVIMIN Cycling-RECYCLE Championship-"Ang Tour ni Frank" which ended at the Mandaue City Reclamation area yesterday.

Ernesto "Ernie" Hortaleza and his coach Cesar Lobramonte ruled their respective classes while the class A division closed without declaring an overall champion.

In the first day of competition, the class B action went unpredictable with young riders trying to prevent Hortaleza from zoom ahead of the pack in the 110-kilometer road race from Danao City to Bogo and back.

Hortaleza, who came as a guest rider for the Cebu-based Social Climbers, patiently worked his way up, pedaling an unfamiliar route here.

His patience paid off well as he outsmarted Jun Roy Amago for the top post via a sprint finish, crossing the finish line in three hours and 12.21 minutes.

John Paul Baco ended third in 3:13.42, while Toots Tonedo was fourth in 3:13.43 and Robert Duran was fifth in 3:14.52.

The country's top triathlete, Arland Macaseib, also made sure he will have a better showing this time, by ranking sixth in 3:14.52 clocking while the seventh to 10th placers in the first day were Taer Lambo and Rolando "Boy" Pagnanawon with identical clocking of 3:15.37, Ramsey Villaver in 3:21.05 and Bulacan's Robert Daa in 3:25.16.

In class C, Lobramonte, known as "Ponga" also registered a victory via sprint finish.

Behind Ponga were Haide Esmalin, John Gayatin and Roger Lastimoso.

The top four riders posted identical time of 3:45.54 while the fifth placer, Fabio Ybas, had 3:46.05.

On the other hand, Jaybop Pagnanawon, who earlier said he will not join the race, won via a solo breakaway to the finish leaving Nino Surban, Adonis Bohol and Richard Navarro.

Pagnanawon won in 3:03.29 while Bohol trailed in 3:03.54 and Richard Navarro was third in 3:04.40.

Surban, who slowed down in Sogod on his way back to Danao due to an empty stomach, ended fourth in 3:04.40 and Randy Carbonera was at fifth spot in 3:24.20.

The sixth to 10th places in class A were Albert Basirgo, John Rey Jaca, Nilo Barbalose, Antonio Nebria and Jovanni Delica.

Event organizer, Frank Gatdula suffered flat tire thrice, but he was most admired for his determination to finish the road race and he did it after more than five hours.

Good thing for the balikbayan Gatdula, his wife, Salome was there as his able "support crew" throughout the action.

In the second day, Jaybop's father, Boy Pagnanawon prevented a back-to-back victory for Hortaleza as he out-pedaled Hortaleza in class B's criterium while Junjun Canasa ended third.

While Hortaleza settled second, Lobramonte went unstoppable to win class C's action over Gayatin as Esmalin settled third.

Antonio Nebria bounced back to win class A over Marjun Villarosa while Jaybop Pagnanawon was third.

The golden boys, an addition to the TnF saw Jonas Colanag on top while Jaime Noynay was second and Nelson Jaca at third spot.

Even with the minor setback yesterday, Hortaleza still had the last laugh after emerging as class B's fastest rider, going back to Manila with an unforgettable experience here together with Lobramonte, who also won class C's overall crown.

Team SC, powered by Hortaleza, also won the team competition over Kalit while class C saw the Doctors' squad on top.

This event spearheaded by the U.S.-based Luzvimin Cycling Club led by Frank Gatdula in cooperation with the Reclamation Cycling Club (RECYCLE) of Mark Ylanan is supported by the local government of Danao City, Carmen and Catmon, Rocka, the no.1 bikeshop in Bulacan, Department of Tourism, Parklane Hotel and Pinoybikes.com.