Fending off attacks by his chief pursuers in Tatlong Eme yesterday, all Barnachea has to do now is to turn back the last-gasp challenges of his rivals in Sungay portion of the dreaded stage to all but wrap up the Padyak Pinoy 2006 championship.
Sungay, named for its dangerous sharp curves and treacherous ascends from Talisay to Tagaytay, poses the last obstacle in Barnachea’s title aspiration. For his chief rivals Frederick Feliciano and Ericson Obosa, it’s the final tough stage to launch their make-or-break bids.
The second-running Feliciano, who gained crucial ground on Barnachea in Stage Five Tuesday, attempted another coup in the Atimonan, Quezon mountain but failed, allowing the overall individual leader to keep his post with only 230.4kms left to trek in the Tour, including the 90km criterium race in Marikina tomorrow.
Obosa, the Stage One winner and two-day overall leader, again displayed his sprinting prowess, winning the two sprint runs in the day before eventually winning the stage before a huge cheering crowd in front of the old Sta. Rosa municipal hall.
For the feat, the Manaoag, Pangasinan native, who was fourth placer in the criterium race in the 2005 SEA Games in Manila, earned P20,000, including the P15,000 special prize put up by Sta. Rosa Mayor Jose Catindig.
Reigning champion Warren Davadilla had another second straight runner-up finish with rookie Edgardo Ballezer finishing third. Davadilla and Ballezer received extra prizes of P10,000 and P5,000 also from the Sta. Rosa chief executive.
Barnachea and Feliciano were with Obosa, Davadilla and Ballezer in a huge 14-man lead group finishing the 170km race from Lucena City in three hours, 57 minutes and 32 seconds.
Thus, Barnachea, Feliciano and Obosa kept their one-two-three standings without significant changes in their times going to the final massed start race today that is to start and end in Tagaytay City. Obosa gained 30-second bonus time on his stage victory.
The riders go down to Nasugbu then pass the towns of Balayan, Calaca, Lemery, Sta. Teresita, Alitagtag, Cuenca, Lipa, Malvar, Tanauan and Talisay before climbing back to Tagaytay via Sungay that features back-breaking 45-degree slopes.
"It’s fight to death. I’ll do my best not to waste this opportunity to win another title," said Barnachea, the Umingan, Pangasinan native who ruled the Calarbarzon Tour in 2002.
"I won’t give up until it’s finally over. There’s still Sungay where I could launch one final attempt to get it," said Feliciano.
Obosa said his primary goal now is to win the Sprint King title but he’ll still go for the individual crown if given the opportunity in today’s stage.
But to several Tour watchers, including Santy’s father Santiago, it’s all over but the coronation for the four-day yellow jersey holder.
"They won’t beat Santy in Sungay. He’s in great shape," said the elder Barnachea, who’s been following Santy’s campaign here since day one.
"He’s got all the support, morally and financially," added Santiago, telling The STAR his US-based brother Domingo sent them P50,000 to back his son’s campaign.
Actually, Feliciano was able to cut loose from Barnachea and lead by as much as one minute and 30 seconds in a daring breakaway in the Tatlong Eme descent.
Barnachea, however, got tremendous boost from Obosa and the Cossack Vodka riders as they waged a spirited chase, catching up with Feliciano in the flat roads outside Pagbilao.
"I’m really scared of downhill ride that’s why Feliciano was able to break free briefly," said Barnachea.
Barnachea, however, flashed ahead of everybody in the Tatlong Eme summit, winning P5,000 special prize from Catindig.