Oconer pulls off easy win in Brunei

MANILA, Philippines – George Oconer dominated from start to finish to rule the 2017 Brunei Cycling Classic in Bandar Seri Begawan over the weekend.

Striking hard early, Oconer cruised to a 4:02:52 clocking, a full minute ahead of Malaysian Nik Akwan Zulkifli, to clinch the win that further boosted his bid for a medal finish in the 29th Southeast Asian Games slated Aug. 19-31 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The 24-year-old Oconer’s Go for Gold squad that included skipper Ronnel Hualda, Jerry Aquino Jr. and John Mier also bagged the top honors in the team event to complete the country’s impressive performance in the one-day race.

Oconer, who took his third consecutive gold after the two qualifying races of the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2017 edition in Subic Bay last November and Bacolod City last month, is expected to represent the country in the road race event in the SEAG where he will likely team up with Mark Galedo and Ronald Oranza.

Galedo struck gold while Oranza copped a bronze in the SEAG in Myanmar four years ago with Oranza claiming another bronze in the team event along with Rustom Lim.