QC’s Curtan, Estayo show way in Velo Challenge

Quezon City’s Paterno Curtan and Tagaytay City’s Nilo Estayo run 1-2 and in the men’s Elite and Jan Paul Morales also of Tagaytay and Jerwin Torres of MayniLA are in the top positions in Juniors as the First Velo Challenge hits its seventh day of racing beginning at 9 a.m. today (April 26) at the Amoranto Velodrome.

Curtan, a bemedalled Southeast Asian Games track specialist, has 37 points on three gold, two silver and four bronze medals to lead the category in the event copresented by the First Gentleman’s Foundation of Atty. Jose Miguel Arroyo and Air21 (Sagot Ko, Padala Mo!)-Tour Pilipinas Inc.

Estayo, bannering Mayor Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino’s team, has 4-3-0 gold-silver-bronze for a second-running 35 points, shoving the injured Paulo Mapanul, who is hanging on at third with 34 points in the event also supported by Pagcor, the Philippine Sports Commission and Philippine Olympic Committee, Isuzu D-Max (the Philippines’ No. 1 Pickup), Sharp Phils., San Miguel Corp.-Viva Mineral Water, Vittoria Tires, 93.9 iFM, RMN dzXL 558, David’s Salon and Intrasports and aired over dzSR Sports Radio 918 khz.

Morales has 5-0-1 haul for 32 points, two points ahead of Torres, who has so far garnered two gold, four silver and one bronze medals in the Velo Challenge that is part of the cyclists’ preparation for the 23rd Southeast Asian Games and sanctioned by PhilCycling.

Ahead in the women’s Elite is Marites Bitbit with 8-1-0 (g-s-b) for 44 points, while Edilberto Lantin leads the Executives’ category with 1-4-1 for 28 points, Gerardo Amar the Veterans’ class with 4-2-1 for 31 points and Virgilio Valenzuela the Masters’ division with 4-2-0 for 29 points.

Quezon City heads the local government units teams with 9-15-11 gold-silver-bronze for 181 points, followed by Puerto Princesa City with 10-14-13 for 180, MayniLA with 9-12-13 for 177 and Tagaytay International Convention Center with 10-5-3 for 98.