Icamax bags Young Rider award in Grandia Le Tour

CEBU, Philippines - Fresh from her back-to-back medals output for her hometown Cebu City in the recently-concluded POC-PSC Philippine National Games, 13-year-old Ana Patricia "Icamax" Maximo of Ridley Token Santini team bagged the special Young Rider award of the Grandia Le Tour of Cebu over the weekend in Tabuelan, Cebu.

The road cycling race, spread over two days, covers the 40-minute Criterium Race in Fuente Osmeña and the long 80-kilometer Road Race from Danao to San Remigio Beach Club on the first day, followed by the 21km Individual Time Trial (ITT) along the Tabuelan stretch and finishing it off in the brutal climbs of 35km Road Race from Balamban to Busay Hills, Cebu City.

In the "Race of Truth" ITT, Icamax, grade 8 student of Sacred Heart School-Hijas de Jesus, fitted her rig with a Token T50 carbon wheels and negotiated the well-paved roads of Tabuelan town in 43:14mins for a top six finish in Men Category D, behind male winners foreigner Will Bloom (1st, 33:29mins), Ronnie Adlawan (2nd, 34:06), Peter Bandoles (3rd, 37:42), Boy Tiples (4th, 38:06) and Mike Yngson (5th, 38:49).

Meanwhile, local ace Amon Espinosa lorded it over in Category A followed by Joseph Miller (2nd), Damian Barret (3rd), Mark Cook (4th) and Warren Vinan (5th).

Arnold Marco (1st), Von Ongkiatco (2nd), Baldomar Jezam (3rd), Christopher Lobaton (4th) and Kit Cabonilla (5th) dominated Category B. Declared winners in Category C are Philip Sainz (1st) and Hernane Cabugwason (2nd).

On the other hand, in the 80km Road Race from Danao City to San Remigio, veteran Nilo Barbalose, using his vast knowledge of the route, outwitted Jawo Vige (2nd) and Mark Cook (3rd) to claim the gold in the Men Category A.

 Arnold Marco (1st), Brian Lee (2nd) and Christopher Lobaton (3rd) filled-up the podium in Category B while Philip Sainz (1st) and Victor Viray (2nd) mastered Category C. Completing the list of winners are Category D champion Ronnie Adlawan, Peter Bandoles (2nd) and Boy Tiples (3rd). (FREEMAN)