After days of fierce showdown, Davadilla finally shook off the challenge of Rhyan Tanguilig, eluding the sight of the reigning titlist on their Marcos Highway climb, but later found new major pursuers in three comrades in the RP team and a young, promising protégé of a former two-time tour champ.
Sophomore tour rider Johnny Dasalla, 22, had his breakout tour performance, putting to good use his training on the rugged terrains of Banawe under the eminent Carlo Guieb as he ruled with aplomb the punishing 217km stage from Vigan.
The longest trek in the 10-stage, 11-day tour also belonged to national riders Arnel Quirimit, Eric Feliciano and Lito Atilano who made decisive moves and closed in on the leader after the first of the two killer Baguio stages.
Now bunched close together in the Magic Five, Davadilla, Quirimit, Feliciano, Dasalla and Atilano figure in a battle royal in the Baguio "Otso" ride today.
The ultimate test for the riders starts at 8 a.m. with the tour entourage first descending Baguio via Marcos Highway, climbing up via Naguilian Road, again descending on Marcos Highway and either pursuing or seeing the end of their title hopes on Kennon Road.
Davadilla himself admitted he’s far from enjoying a safe lead.
"Depende sa kundisyon bukas. Pero hindi ako paborito dahil mahina ako sa lusong," said Davadilla, ahead by only two minutes and 21 seconds over closest pursuer Quirimit.
Quirimit, one of four riders chasing a second tour title in this cycling spectacle, meanwhile, seemed to offer a warning to the other contenders.
"Nagsisimula pa lang ang karera para sa akin," said the 2003 tour champ, who finished a strong second to Dasalla in the stage, eating up almost two minutes on Davadilla’s overnight lead.
Atilano and Feliciano came in third and fourth as they also moved within striking distance of Davadilla - the overall leader since Day Two in Tagaytay.
But the biggest surprises were Dasalla’s triumphant ride and Tanguilig’s debacle.
Dasalla was with a nine-man group, including Quirimit and Atilano, which staged an attack just 20 kilometers into the race. The nine riders worked together in the flat ride from Vigan in Ilocos Sur to Agoo in La Union before going on their own upon hitting Marcos Highway.
Dasalla showed tremendous strength in the Marcos Highway ascent and found himself riding by his lonesome in the last 20 kilometers of the race.
Tanguilig, meanwhile, seemed to spend so much energy setting the pace for the main pack for most of the flatland ride and just couldn’t keep up as Davadilla attacked in the mountain climb.
He fell to sixth place, now seven minutes and 20 seconds off the pace.
"Naglagi lang ako sa likod niya (Tanguilig). Actually una siyang umatake sa ahon, pero nakakuha ako ng second wind at nagtuloy-tuloy kaya naiwan ko siya," said Davadilla.
"Na-groggy ako kaya hindi na ako nakasabay. Pero hindi pa rin ako nasisiraan ng loob," said Tanguilig.
Davadilla lost some precious seconds as he took a pee before the mountain climb. But the Valenzuela national rider also displayed an amazing power as he was able to lessen the nearly seven-minute margin Atilano’s and Quirimit’s group has built in hitting the La Union-Benguet boundary.
Atilano could have seized the yellow jersey had he managed to keep the lead to the finish.
Quirimit also answered the call of nature before the Baguio ascent, joining the group of Atilano and Feliciano in the climb.
"Pinili ko ng mapunta sa chase group. Dahil mas malakas silang magdala ng trangko," said Quirimit.