Chris Joven tops 3rd stage; Ronald Oranza stays at helm

TUGUEGARAO, Philippines — Cris Joven of Army-Bicycology delivered as promised in scorching heat, topping the 223.5 Stage Three of the Ronda Pilipinas 2018 presented by LBC even as Ronald Oranza stayed in control after the grueling race that started in Pagudpud and ended in front of the Provincial Capitol here yesterday.

Coasting with the top guns in the first two stages, Joven, 30, finally made his move, joining the lead pack that made an early breakaway then outsprinted Ronnilan Quita of Go for Gold Developmental team and Leonel Dimaano of Team Franzia at the finish to claim lap honors in five hours, 39 minutes and 45 seconds.

Quita and Dimaano finished second and third but gained the same clocking as Joven, who jumped from No. 23 to seventh overall with an aggregate time of 10:32:53, a little over seven minutes off Oranza.

“I was telling one of the photographers early in the race to take a good shot of me at the finish line because I’m going to win this,” recalled Joven, a native of Tobaco, Albay, in Filipino, who placed third last year.

“I’m happy I didn’t disappoint them,” added Joven, whose campaign is backed by Brig. Gen. Roy Devisa and Col. Joh Divinagracia and Bicycology, a bike shop owned by former Olympian swimmer, Phl Sports Commission and Games and Amusement Board chairman Eric Buhain.

Despite some movements in the ranking, Oranza, of Navy-Standard Insurance, retained the solo lead after checking in at No. 13 in the stage in 5:40:28. He now has a total time of 10:25:39, five minutes ahead of fellow Navyman Archie Cardana.

Oranza hopes to hold sway and keep his pursuers at bay in today’s 135.2km Tuguegarao-Isabela Stage Four, a relatively flat course passing through key spots in Isabela in Cabagan, Tamuini, Ilagan City, Kabugao and Alicia before finishing in front of the Echague Municipal Hall.

Oranza also helped defending back-to-back champion and Navy skipper Jan Paul Morales bounce back into contention while pushing erstwhile second running George Oconer of Go for Gold outside of the top 10.