Vintage Barnachea is virtual champ

BAGUIO, Philippines – Santy Barnachea recalled the form that netted him the inaugural Ronda Pilipinas crown with a strong joint 15th finish in yesterday’s Stage 6 as he virtually secured his second Ronda championship with two stages still to go.

Barnachea clocked four hours, 20.34 minutes in the 152.5km Stage Six ruled by PSC-PhilCycling’s Junrey Navarra (4:16.22) for the third straight year, foiling his rivals’ charge in the make-or-break lap and reducing today’s final two stages – an 8.8km individual time trial in the morning and 74.5km criterium in the afternoon – to coronation laps.

“Tapos na (It’s all over),” said Barnachea, who pooled an aggregate time of 21:49.37 with George Oconer Jr. of PSC-PhlCycling almost eight minutes behind at 21:59.09.

Barring any major setbacks, Barnachea, 38, will be the first rider to ever win the Ronda crown twice. Like this year, Barnachea also won the 2011 inaugurals without taking a single stage.

“Knock on wood, I hope not (accident),” said Barnachea, set to bank the top P1 million purse for his fourth Tour win overall. He also won the 2002 Tour of Calabarzon and 2006 Padyak Pinoy.

Navarra, from Koronadal, South Cotabato, took stage honors in 4:16.22 while PSC-PhilCycling teammate Rustom Lim, from Guimba, Nueva Ecija, checked in second in 4:18.19. 7-Eleven’s Boots Ryan Cayubit finished third in 4:18.22.

The diminutive but big-hearted Navarra also ruled this stage the last two years while snatching the Mitsubishi King of the Mountain title from 7-Eleven’s Baler Ravina to stake his claim as the country’s best mountain-climber.

“I dedicate this to my team,” said Navarra.

The 23-year-old Oconer said he’s happy to finish behind Barnachea, whom he described as strong and determined rider.

“I think it’s not that bad to finish second given the depth of the field. Barnachea is just too strong,” said Oconer, who stands to receive the P500,000 runner-up prize.

Rounding up the top 10 in the overall individual standings are Navy’s Jan Paul Morales (21:58.54), ZDK’s Edgar Nieto (22:00.51), Navy’s Ronald Oranza (22:01.07) and Lloyd Lucien Reynante (22:01.23), Army’s Irish Valenzuela (22:02.24), 7-Eleven’s Baler Ravina (22:02.29), Army’s Cris Joven (22:03.39) and Navy’s John Mark Camingao (22:08.47).

While Barnachea and Navarra have all but secured their respective titles, Morales (blue Petron sprint), 7-Eleven’s Jay Lampawog (yellow MVPSF 17-18 years old) and Camingao (white U-23) will have to fight to keep theirs with two sprint  laps lined up in the final day.

The race is presented by LBC and supported by major sponsors the Manny V. Pangilinan Sports Foundation, Petron and Mitsubishi and minor sponsors Cannondale, Standard Insurance, Tech1 Corp., Maynilad and NLEX and sanctioned by PhilCycling under Cavite Rep. Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino with TV5 and Sports Radio as media partners.

For updates, check Ronda Pilipinas’ official Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/RondaPilipinas, and Twitter account, @rondapilipinas.