Ronald Oranza shows mettle in Individual Time Trial, keeps lead

TARLAC, Philippines — Ronald Oranza of Navy-Standard Insurance put on a compelling performance in topping the Stage Seven Individual Time Trial as he solidified his grip of the overall lead in the Ronda Pilipinas 2018 presented by LBC at the Monasterio de Tarlac in the mountains of San Jose, Tarlac here yesterday.

Last to take the road being the LBC red jersey wearer, Oranza, 26, overtook Jay Lampawog of Go for Gold Developmental Team and Navy teammate Ronald Lomotos in an awesome demonstration of sprinting power and nearly caught up with reigning back-to-back champion Jan Paul Morales of Navy at the finish line to all but lay claim to the individual crown worth all the marbles and a handsome P1million.

At the end of the 31.5-kilometer lap, Oranza posted the fastest time of 44 minutes, 44 seconds, or about two minutes ahead of Morales, who checked in at second in 46:31.

Another Navyman Rudy Roque, last year’s runner-up, completed an all Navy podium finish by finishing at No. 3 in 48.26.

It was Oranza’s third stage triumph after the Villasis, Pangasinan native took the Stage One criterium in Vigan on March 3 and the Vigan-Pagudpud Stage Two the next day.

After seven stages, Oranza remained comfortably perched on top with an aggregate time of 21:01:56, or a little less than seven minutes ahead of Morales, who retained his place at No. 2 (21:08:51) in what is quickly shaping into a two-man race.

Oranza, however, isn’t making an early celebration.

“It is not yet over, there are still five stages including three killer laps,” said Oranza, referring to the 207.2km Silang-Tagaytay Stage Nine on March 15, 147.8km Tagaytay-Calaca Stage 10 on March 16 and the 92.72km Calaca-Calaca Stage 11 on March 17.

While it looked easy on the outside, Oranza said he had a tough time as he battled a finger injury and a scrape below his right knee after he figured in a crash in Camiling, Tarlac in Stage Six the day before.

“It was hard because of the wound. But I did my best not to think of it, I just really pedaled as hard as I could,” he said.

Lampawog, currently the wearer of the MVP yellow jersey symbolic of the best under-23 rider, zoomed to No. 3 overall in 21:19:31 as Ronald Lomotos of Navy-Standard, the erstwhile No. 3, was disqualified for drafting or tailing Morales.

Cris Joven of Army-Bicycology moved up to No. 4 (21:20:02), John Mark Camingao of Navy to No. 5 (21:20:34), George Oconer of Go for Gold at No. 6 (21:20:51), Ronnel Hualda of Go for Gold Developmental team at No. 7 (21:21:29), Rudy Roque of Navy at No. 8 (21:21:42), Irish Valenzuela of CCN Superteam at No. 9 (21:22:04) and Junrey Navara at No. 10 (21:22:08).

Oranza and flying Navymen will aim to widen the gap in the team race in today’s Stage Eight Team Time Trial that starts at the provincial capitol and finishes at the Tarlac Recreational Park.

Navy has an aggregate clocking of 81:23:35, or about half an hour ahead of closest pursuer Go for Gold Developmental team with 81:53:13.

Army-Bicycology was at No. 3 with 82:10:37.