Feliciano slashes Barnachea lead

LUCENA — Frederick Feliciano recalled his old fiery form and made a daring move along the Rizal and Laguna highlands to close in on overall individual leader Santi Barnachea after the fifth stage from Marikina to this bustling Quezon province capital.

Pressures began to build up among the top guns heading to the homestretch of the short but challenging tour with tempers flaring up and providing extra drama and color in the fight for the coveted crown.

Feliciano had a verbal tussle with reigning champion Warren Davadilla with the former thinking the latter was holding up their breakaway bid while Barnachea rued he was left in check with the main pack.

Feliciano finished three minutes and 47 seconds ahead of Barnachea. Thus, the two are separated by only four minutes and seven seconds as they continue their battle with the Stage 6 starting in this city and ending in Sta. Rosa, Laguna via the dreaded Tatlong Eme today.

Barnachea, curiously the winner of Marikina-Lucena stage last year, lost some grounds on the day he had hoped to gain podium honors as gift to his baby boy Darren who turned two years old.

Meanwhile, Reinhard Gorantes rode quietly and methodically with the lead group and sneaked in at the finish for the first stage victory in his young Tour career that started in 2002.

The 26-year-old Gorantes from Victorias, Negros Occidental outpedalled Davadilla, Feliciano, Edgardo Ballezer, Joel Calderon, Bryan Sepmo, Irish Valenzuela and Pepito Calosa at the finish near the Lucena City Hall with each one clocking three hours, 30 minutes and 21 seconds in the 145km stage.

Leading the assault that had the eight riders dominating the race from the first climb in Antipolo all the way to the finish, Feliciano made a significant move in the leaderboard although he felt he could have done better if Davadilla did his part in the stage. Thus, the two national riders had a heated exchange of words on the road but patched things up at the finish.

"He knew that I’m not in good shape but he was asking for more. We had an argument and I even challenged him for us to quit the race," said Davadilla in Filipino.

Later, Feliciano expressed satisfaction he was able to cut precious minutes on Barnachea overall lead.

"I really planned to make a move. I gained some grounds on Santi, so my title bid remains alive," said Feliciano, who is expected to launch another attack in the Tatlong Eme today or in the treacherous Sungay ascent tomorrow.

Erstwhile two-stage leader Ericson Obosa also got stuck in the main pack with Barnachea and slid from second to third, seven minutes and 29 seconds off the pace.

Tour watchers said the battle for the crown in this tour presented by Tanduay Rhum and organized by Dynamic Outsource Solutions Inc. in cooperation with Wow Magic Sing is down between Barnachea and Feliciano.

"I had a wrong decision of positioning myself in the middle of the peloton. I got stuck there as Feliciano launched his attack," said Barnachea.

"I was left with the rookies. Mga bata pero magugulang, kaya pinagsisigawan ko na lang," Barnachea said.

Beaten on an up-and-down ride yesterday, the Umingan, Pangasinan native is thinking on riding defensively today. "I’ll stay close with him (Feliciano) wherever he goes tomorrow (today). I’ll join him even when he goes to the bathroom, " he said.

Running fourth to 10th after the fifth stage were rookie Irish Valenzuela (8’43 behind Barnachea), Tomas Martinez (10’14), another rookie Harvey Sicam (11;31), Renato Sembrano (12’32), Davadilla (13’30), Arnel Quirimit (16’16) and Gorantes (22’25).

Davadilla has given up hopes of a title-repeat as early as the second stage, seeking a finish inside the Magic 5.

"It’s embarrassing for a defending champion to finish way behind. That’s why I’m working hard though I’m really not in shape," said Davadilla.

TOUR NOTES: Barnachea practically has his entire family supporting him in this Tour. Atop the Pillilia mountain, his father Santiago was seen handing him food and water in plastic bags. The Barnacheas, including Santi’s wife Michelle, have been following the entourage in their own van... Two riders, picked up by the SAG Wagon with mechanical troubles the other day, were allowed to continue the race. A motorcycle escort, who suffered an injury after taking a spill while clearing bystanders in Tarlac Monday, became the first casualty of the race. Another motorcycle escort took a spill along Manila East highway yesterday but was unhurt.