Tough Ronda Pilipinas climb on today

RONDA Pilipinas’ crucial stages get underway today as riders make their way to the Summer Capital with the overall championship at stake.

Two mountain stages ending here in the Summer Capital will be the final test of endurance which will determine this year’s champion and winner of the P1 million purse in the 2013 LBC Ronda Pilipinas.

The gruelling 147 Bayombong to Baguio, the individual time trial , and the Baguio Criterium in the 16th and final stage – cap the 16-leg, 21-day, 2,200-kilometer tour, the longest cycling race and the richest with a total purse of P7.5 million put up for the third straight year by LBC Express Inc., the leading courier firm.

PLDT-Spyder’s Ronald Oranza, Navy-Standard’s Santy Barnachea, LPGMA-American Vinyl’s Irish Valenzuela and Roadbike Phl’s Ronald Gorantes will be the riders to watch in today’s lap as they pass through the scenic yet tough Ambuklao road.

Oranza's three second lead againts Barnachea will be in check into today's crucial lap as Irish Valenzuela, a known king of the mountain contender will also try to secure the coveted red jersey, which symbolizes the overall leader of the race.

Valenzuela is just 33 second behind Oranza while Ronald Gorantes, who is in fourth place is just a minute and 33 seconds behind the leader.

King of the mountain contenders Cris Joven and Joel Calderon will also try to chip in that time difference as they trail the leader with a time difference of five minutes, 27 seconds and 13 minutes and 51 seconds respectively.

2012 Ronda reigning titlist John Mark Galedo, who is currently at number 9 in the overall standings is also expected to make his move as he trails Oranza by 14 minutes and 31 seconds and vie for the individual champion that will bankroll P1 million with the second and third placers receiving P500,000 and P250,000, respectively. (Roderick Osis)