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By ADRIAN STEWART CO and Resel Tianero
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Sunday, March 5, 2017
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Top cyclists from all over the country stream past the Iloilo Business Park during the final 50-kilometer criterium race of the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2017. RONDA PILIPINAS
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Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance rider Jan Paul Morales (rightmost) relishes his victory ride after being officially crowned king of Ronda Pilipinas 2017 on Saturday at the Iloilo Business Park. RONDA PILIPINAS
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ILOILO City – Navy-Standard Insurance’s Jan Paul Morales capped off his dominant conquest in the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2017 by ruling the Stage 14 criterium race on Saturday at the Iloilo Business Park.
The Calumpang, Marikina-native Morales became the first cyclist to clinch back-to-back Ronda crowns and also tied veteran Santy Barnachea as the most titled winner with two championships apiece.
The 31-year-old Morales finished the 50 kilometer criterium race that started and ended inside Iloilo Business Park at 1:05:08 to formally clinch the overall championship with an aggregate time of 44:55:35.
This marked Morales’ sixth stage win after topping the Stage Two criterium in Vigan, Ilocos Sur; the Stage Three in Angeles-Subic; Stage Seven in Pili-Daet; Stage Nine criterium in Sta. Rosa, Laguna; and the Stage 12 Individual Time Trial in Guimaras.
“I’m happy as well as relieved that it was over,” Morales said. “It was really a difficult race, tougher than last year. I’m glad I could finally rest because I really gave it all just to win this race.”
“Everything I do is for my two-month pregnant wife Leni, six-year-old daughter Janel and two-year-old son Jan Paul, Jr. They couldn’t be here because my wife is two months pregnant,” said Morales.
It was a dominating performance for Morales as he not only captured the overall title and pocketed P1,228,500 in cash – including the P1-million top purse – but also the Sprint and King of the Mountain plums.
Morales admits that he found the competition tough, especially with the emergence of more strong neophyte cyclists. He adds that he and his team do their best to give back and thank their respective sponsors.
“Hindi sayang yung binibigay ng sponsor namin, kase heto na yung trabaho namin maging military athlete,” said Morales.
Two years ago, Morales sustained a fracture after a competition. However, he hasn’t let the injury strain his health and winning streak.
Apart from Morales’ triumph, Navy-Standard Insurance has also won the team crown as it had a total time of 176:46:09 ahead of Kinetix Lab-Army’s 177:36:36 and Go for Gold’s 177:46:07.
Finishing behind Morales in Stage 14 are Kinetix’s Cris Joven, Mark Bordeos and Ronnilan Quita, Bike Extrme’s Jaybop Pagnanawon, Navy’s Rudy Roque, Go for Gold’s Ronel Hualda, Orlie Villanueva and Jonel Carcueva and Mindanao’s Roel Quitoy all at 1:05:26.
Finishing after Morales in the overall race are Roque, Joven, Go for Gold’s Bryant Sepnio, Leonel Dimaano, Ronald Lomotos, Navy’s Daniel Ven Carino and Lloyd Lucien Reynante (44:22:59) and Army’s Reynaldo Navarro and Ronnilan Quita (44:27:00).
Ronda is presented by LBC in partnership with MVP Sports Foundation, Petron, Mitsubishi, Versa.ph, Partas, Maynilad, Standard Insurance, CCN, Bike Xtreme, NLEX, PhilCycling and 3Q Sports Event Management./PN
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