Calla boosts stock in AboitizPower Tour

MANILA, Philippines - Von Dutch rider Ricky Calla delivered strong performances in the individual time trial and criterium races last Saturday to boost his drive for the overall title in the two-day 2013 AboitizPower Tour of Subic.

Racing in the Category 3, Calla settled for a pair of runner-up finishes in the 20K ITT and 40K criterium race but it was enough to assure him the number one spot heading into Sunday’s final stage, a lung-busting 90K road race.

A winner of last month’s 20K ITT race in the Tour of Clark, Calla timed 28 minutes, 24.53 seconds in the ITT held early morning and 54:47.89 in the criterium by late afternoon.

Calla’s teammate Jessie Tan topped the ITT in 28:24:53 while Von Dutch B cyclist Ivan Leopando ruled the criterium in 54:47.66.

The racefest was organized by Bike King Philippines and co-sponsored by AboitizPower and its subsidiary, SN-Aboitiz Power Group with support from Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) tourism department, Unilab Active Health, ORBEA, Corima, Crystal Clear, GARMIN, Pocari Sweat and MINI Philippines.

Weather Philippines Foundation (WPF) provided participants with accurate,  localized weather information and digital race course.

WPF is an advocacy of the Aboitiz group in partnership with Swiss firm Meteomedia. The foundation offers localized weather forecasts for major cities around the country through WPF-owned Automated Weather Stations (AWS) in over 230 sites.

An AWS unit is capable of determining temperature, pressure, humidity, wind speed and direction, solar radiation and precipitation locally.

Localized weather data are then processed by WPF’s technology partner, Meteomedia. These free forecasts are readily available to the general public through the WPF website, www.weather.com.ph.

“WPF understands the value of accurate weather information to outdoor sports enthusiasts, as it allows them to take the necessary precaution to ensure their safety on different terrains,” said WPB general manager Celso Caballero III.

“Lots of other groups, not to mention the general public, stand to benefit a lot from accurate weather predictions that are specific to their areas. We’re targeting to install 1,000 automated weather stations by the end of the year so we can become the country’s premier weather information provider,” he continues.

Gergo Bota, meanwhile, had a firm grip in the male Category 4 as he ruled the first two stages even as Marella Vania Salamat and Marita Lucas of Team David’s Salon shared podium honors in the women’s class.

Bota clocked 30:41.30 in the ITT and 53:56.34 in the criterium and needed a good showing in the road race to claim the title in the division, which features new riders.

The top three in the ITT were Salamat in 32:54, Doray Ellis of Fitness First Tri Team (33:16.59)and  Bic Ferrera of Giant Racing (34:29). Criterium winners were Lucas (52:35.23), Salamat  (52:35.32) and Aboitiz Power Cycling ((52:39.67).

Cyclists who have accumulated the best aggregated time after 150 kilometers of racing will be declared the overall champions in the three categories.