Japanese cyclist shakes off opposition

IBA, Zambales, Philippines – Unheralded Japanese Kazuo Inoue bucked the heat and a star-studded field to rule Stage Two of the Le Tour de Filipinas 2011 in a victory that was more than a triumph of the spirit of a rider unshaken by tremor and tsunami back home and a decade-long fruitless campaign.

“I dedicate this win to my countrymen, I want to make them proud (despite the tragedy),” said Inoue, who hails from Saitama, Japan, 300 kilometers from the Fukushima prefecture that was severely hit by earthquake and tsunami last month.

Inoue, 30, put on an amazing display of riding skills and stamina to overcome that challenge posed by the tough climb in Bataan then hung tough to humble the top local and foreign riders and capture the top honors in the race that started in Balanga, Bataan and ended here yesterday.

He paced himself entering the ascents at Bataan natural park and Pawikan conservation site, stuck with the peloton that caught up with a couple of early leaders before making his move in the final 500 meters to top the 153.60km Stage 2 in three hours, 59 minutes, 19 seconds.

“I’ve participated in so many races for 10 years and I’ve never won a single race. This is my first win so I’m really very happy,” said Inoue, who raised his arms in triumph as he crossed the finish line then pocketed $800 for his very first stage victory.

The win sent Inoue from out of nowhere to fourth place with an aggregate clocking of 5:20:50, or just eight seconds off the pace, as stage winners get a 10-second incentive that would be chopped off his total time while second and third placers receive bonuses of eight and six seconds, respectively.

Inoue is also in third place in the battle for the sprint king honors with 11 points with purple jersey holder Shiri Sisan leading the hunt with 14 points followed by Emami with 12 points.

A huge 36-man wave of riders, headed by Iranian Hamid Shiri Sisan of Suren cycling team and Jai Crawford of Giant Kenda and Stage One winner Iranian Rahim Emami of Iran’s Azad University, came in next with Emami keeping the yellow jersey with a total clocking of 5:27:42, three seconds ahead of compatriot Shiri Sisan and six seconds ahead of Filipino Ericson Obosa of 7-Eleven in the race for overall individual honors.

“I’m glad I’ll still wear the yellow jersey,” said the 29-year-old Emami, a known mountain-climber after recently finishing the second best KoM awardee in the Tour de Langkawi.

Smart’s Oscar Rendole surged ahead of the pack early by taking the two ascents – one in the first 29.40km and 59km marks in Morong – as he seized the lead in the King of the Mountain race with six points.

Rendole, however, started to fade after the climb and was caught by the chasing pack and finished with the second group. He remained in 25th overall with 5:28:10.

The 26-year-old Rendole will wear the polka dots jersey in Stage Three, a 151.20km stretch to be highlighted by a 150-meter ascent in Mabini, Pangasinan.

The field is now reduced to 63 from 71 after four failed to finish, three missed the cut.

Defending champion David McCann, the top man of the Giant Kenda team, continued to struggle, coming in at 53rd place in Stage Two as well as overall in 4:00:18 and 5:33:01, respectively.

Lloyd Lucien Reynante of 7-Eleven remained in contention with a 5:27:54 aggregate while Eusebo Quinones of Shopinas, Alex Coutts of Giant Kenda, Merculio Ramos Jr. of Air21, Amir Zargari of Azad and Jay Garillo of Wow Videoke rounded up the top 10 all with 5:27:57.