Mindanao rider takes Ronda “King of Mountain” award

JUNREY Navarra stole the limelight of the 14th stage in the Ronda Pilipinas 2013 finishing the grueling 133.7 kilometer from Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya up to the Summer Capital passing through the scenic Ambuklao Road.

Navarra checked in with a time of 4 hours 44 minutes and 17 seconds to win the stage and also the most coveted "King of the Mountain Award" and the first rider from Mindanao to win such plum.

"Pinangarap ko talagang makakuha ng kahit isang stage lang pero nagulat ako kasi di ko inexpect na dito pa sa Baguio ko makukuha," said the 25-year-old Navarra who will also celebrate his birthday February 1.

Daniel Astro came in second with a time of 4:50:04 who identically checked in together with Jonipher Ravina.

With two more stages to go, over all individual leader Ronald Oranza stayed at the helm and maintained a three second lead over his closest rival in Santy Barnachea.

Oranza has an overall time of 52:10:53 while his closest pursuer in Barnachea with an overall time of 52:10:56.

Irish Valenzuela remained at third with an overall time of 52:11:26.

Barnachea was the ninth rider who checked in the Bayombong-Baguio stage with a time of 4:50:39 together with Valenzuela.

Stage 14 actually offered four ascents passing through the Sierra Madre and Cordillera mountains including Mt. Pulag, the country’s third highest peak at 2,922 meters above sea level, and the Ambuclao Dam before ending up in Burnham Park.