Victor Espiritu has trained his sights on a plausible third Tour title this early although winning it a third time next year would entail a lot of hard work, resolve and determination.
For one, time might not be on his side as the newly crowned Padyak Pinoy Summer Showdown champion would be 32 by then and younger, stronger, hungrier rivals are expected to shine the way they did this year.
There is Baler Ravina, 25, who showed tremendous mountain climbing skills by ruling the killer Baguio-to-Baguio Stage 9. He would up second, falling short of his title bid by just 29 seconds but succeeding in proving his worth against the veterans in the fold.
Focus will also be on the 20-year-old Irish Valenzuela, who surprised everybody, including his coach – former two-time Tour champion Renato Dolosa – for finishing a strong third.
“Baler (Ravina) would be the rider to beat next year because he’s not only young and strong, he also has the mountain climbing skills that is crucial to becoming a Tour champion,” said Espiritu.
“But watch out also for Irish Valenzuela. He’s young and full of promise. He proved this year that he can compete with the best,” added Espiritu.
Still, the wiry Espiritu vowed to return and do a repeat of his win last week in a victory that was more of a triumph of the spirit of a cyclist whom pundits say is now on the twilight of his career.
“When I won my first Tour title in 1996 and when I was named King of the Mountain the next two editions, I was only 20 and in my best shape because I was still young,” said Espiritu. “Now, I won because of my experience.”
Would that be enough to lift a third Tour title?
“That would really be my target,” Espiritu said.
Espiritu, who bagged over P100,000 in cash prizes, is actually seeking to become only the second rider to win the Tour three times although he won his second crown on a shorter route consisted of 10 stages, more than half of what used to be a 21-lap event.
Antonio Arzala ruled the initial staging of the Tour in 1955 and repeated as champion in 1956 and 1959 to become the first cyclist to win the Tour three times.
Others expected to foil Espiritu’s three-peat bid are 23-year-old Carlos Nadyahan, this year’s top rookie, and 22-year-old Caltex’s Harvey Sicam, who finished ahead of last year’s champion Santy Barnachea and veteran Merculio Ramos.
Meanwhile, Gary Cayton, head of the Padyak Pinoy organizer DOS-!, said sponsors and supporters have already signified their intention to back next year’s staging of the event, thus ensuring Espiritu’s sure crack at cycling greatness.