Oranza holds sway as Oconer rules Stage 6

TARLAC, Philippines — George Oconer of Go for Gold nipped overall leader Ronald Oranza of Navy-Standard Insurance in a mad dash to the finish to claim Stage Six honors in Ronda Pilipinas 2018 that started in San Jose, Nueva Ecija and ended in front of the provincial capitol here.

Oconer and Oranza broke away from the lead pack in the final 10km but the former flashed superb staying power and sprinting skills to foil the latter in their spirited duel in the 111.8km race. Both, however, wound up with identical clockings of two hours, 37 minutes and four seconds.

“We broke loose from the group in the last 10km. We took turns (in the lead) and I’m glad they weren’t able to catch up with us,” said the 25-year-old Oconer, whose lap win, however, failed to shake the Top 10 standings.

Oconer remained at No. 8 with 20:31:22 aggregate with Oranza, 26, not only keeping his lead intact (20:17:12) but also adding nine seconds over second running and Navy teammate and three-peat-seeking Jan Paul Morales, who checked in with the peloton nine seconds off the pace for a total time of 20:22:20.

Oranza, from Villasis, Pangasinan, actually bucked an earlier spill and chased the lead pack and Oconer the rest of the way. But the crash in Camiling, Tarlac where he was hit by Go for Gold Developmental team’s Roel Quitoy, who was hit first by a motorcycle-riding marshal, left the leader hurting that could affect his performance in the next leg or two.

“It hurts, I have several scratches on my leg and my left thumb hurts too. I’ll see what happens tomorrow (today),” said Oranza, as he primes up for Stage Seven Individual Time Trial that will start at the capitol and end at the Monasterio de Tarlac located on a mountaintop in San Jose, Tarlac.

Ronald Lomotos of Navy-Standard is in third with 20:26:09, followed by Jay Lampawog of Go for Gold Developmental team (20:28:25), Cris Joven of Army-Bicycology (20:28:48), Ronnel Hualda of Go for Gold Developmental team (20:29:47), Navy-Standard’s John Mark Camingao (20:29:53) and El Joshua Carino (20:32:17).