Davadilla seizes control in Stage 2

TAGAYTAY — Former titlist Warren Davadilla and reigning champion Rhyan Tanguilig unleashed an impressive show of strength and power in the Golden Tour 50 @ 05 yesterday, outclassing the opposition in the climb to this mountain-top city via the treacherous Sungay Zigzag.

The former teammates in the national team helped one another to boost their ascent to Talisay – known for dangerous uphill climb and hairpin turns, en route to a two-man finish witnessed by a good Friday crowd at the Tagaytay People’s Park here.

Davadilla checked in half-length ahead of Tanguilig, their finish ironically devoid of drama after the long trek as nobody made a move in the last few meters.

" I let Rhyan set the pace for so long so I wanted him to take the stage (honors) but then he also wanted to give it to me," said Davadilla in Filipino at the end of the 91-kilometer race from Lucena.

Checking in with a time of 2:03:03, the 1998 Centennial Tour champion seized the overall lead after the second of the 10-stage, 11-day tour presented by Tanduay and supported by Sunbolt (official sports drink), Summit (official water), Osaka Iridology, Island Souvenirs, PhilAm Life and Nestle Power Bar.

Going into the third stage, set on the same route to be used in one of the cycling events in the SEA Games this December, Davadilla enjoys a lead of one minute and 51 seconds over Tanguilig.

At the break of dawn today, the tour entourage drives to Tuy, Batangas where the third stage starts at 9 a.m. It’s an individual time trial (ITT) race covering a distance of 35.5 kilometers.

Alvin Benosa, Touch Mobile’s assistant skipper, finished solo third in the second stage and jumped to third, now ahead of his team captain Santi Barnachea who slid to fourth from first in Stage One.

Fernando Alagano of Metro Drug, teammate Benito Lopez, Vat Rider Aleonar March McQuin, Eusebio Quinones of Customs, Danny Ganigan of Guerrero Brandy and Michael Primero also of Customs rounded up the top 10 after the punishing Lucena-Tagaytay run.

Race director Paquito Rivas considered the route — tackled for the first time in tour history — the second toughest in this year’s tour after the Baguio-to-Baguio stage.

But it offered little problem to Davadilla and Tanguilig.

"I’m familiar with the route. Kumarera na ako diyan," said Davadilla.

Tanguilig stayed with the main group throughout the flat rides before making his move upon hitting the start of the 10-kilometer Sungay Zigzag, passing by one spent rider after another until catching up with the lead group led by Davadilla.

Barnachea, the first stage winner, was actually with the group along with Danny Ganigan, Oscard Rendole and Ronel Hualda. These four riders, however, faded away one by one, giving Davadilla and Tanguilig the opening for the breakaway finish.

Davadilla and Tanguilig took turns in setting up the pace before the eventual stage winner surged ahead to stay in the final bend in the winding ascent to the Tagaytay People’s Park.

Tanguilig humbly said later on: "Sa kanya talaga ang karera."

In the team competition, Davadilla’s Colt 45 team surged to the top with him. Metro Drug is 15 minutes and 47 seconds behind at second followed by Guererro Brandy, Tourism and Custom.

Winning a category 1 climbing stage, Davadilla earned 10 points for a leading two-day total of 16 in the King of the Mountain contest.