Summit race tests climbers mettle

The climbers are expected to take centerstage in today’s ninth stage — the 145-km grind from Cabanatuan City to Solano, Nueva Vizcaya — as one of the acid tests in the Summit Water King of the Mountain (KOM) race takes place over the dreaded Dalton Pass, that mountain road linking Central Luzon and Cagayan Valley.

"It’s getting to be more exciting from here on," said Sophia Aberin, product manager of Summit, the official drinking water of the Tour Pilipinas 2004.

Summit, the country’s leading natural drinking water, and Beer Na Beer, two foremost Asia Brewery Inc. products, are involved in the ongoing Tour with the latter making waves in Thursday’s eighth stage from Dagupan City to Cabanatuan City through Joel Calderon’s stage victory.

Today, Lloyd Reynante and Albert Primero, each toting 17 points, will battle it out to keep the lead in the Summit Water KOM although erstwhile frontrunners Frederick Feliciano and Eusebio Quionones will be out to spoil their bids.

The Summit Water KOM race offers P50,000 to the winner at the end of the 17-stage Tour on May 2.