RP riders rule Vietnam Tour fifth leg

MANILA, Philippines - The Roadbike Phils.-711 cyclists, bannered by Lloyd Lucien Reynante, captured team honors in the fifth leg of the Binh Duong TV Cup Tour of Vietnam over the weekend.

The 31-year-old Reynante spearheaded the team’s attack in the short 98-kilometer race from Quy Nhon to the coastal town of Tuy Hoa, the capital of Phu Yen province, checking in second in the main bunch of 48 riders behind lap winner Do Tuanh Hanh of Vietnam.       

After topping the first intermediate sprint in Stage 4 last Saturday, Reynante turned in another solid outing as he clocked two hours, 23 minutes, 49 seconds while teammates Merculio Ramos Jr., Nikko Cortez and 2009 Tour of Luzon champion Mark Guevarra took the 11th to 13th spots, respectively.

Rounding out the team’s impressive outing was Mark Rhome Antonio, who also clocked the same time and placed 35th for the RP-711 squad whose stint is sanctioned by PhilCycling headed by Tagaytay Mayor Bambol Tolentino and supported by 7-11 convenience stores chief Vic Paterno and Columbia sportswear.

Ramos also placed second in the lone intermediate sprint at the 60-km. mark.

The RP-711 squad pooled a winning time of 7:11.27, the same as runner-up CCN-Holland and third placer Domesco Thong Hap of Vietnam, as the team booked its second stage triumph following their victory in the third leg.

Reynante, who was 20th overall entering Saturday’s contest, moved up to No. 16 as the leading RP-711 bet with a cumulative time of 13:04.17, 1:47 behind Mongolian frontrunner Tuguldur Tuulkhangai (13::02.30).

Two Vietnamese cyclists – Nguyen Trong Tai (13:02.43) and Le Van Duan (13:02.44), stood in second and third, respectively.

Also moving up to 28th place was Antonio (13:05.31), while Cortez and Ramos were in joint 29th at 13:05.41.

The RP-711 riders remained in sixth place overall (39:13.11) as the nine-stage bikefest took a breather yesterday before hitting the road again for the sixth lap today.