IT HAS been a great year for Cebu sports as six Cebu-based boxers won the prestigious Boxing World Cup, a boxing superstar and an up-and-coming name in the sport made Cebu their training ground and the Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation Inc. basketball event finally getting competitive.
With the year about to end, Sun.Star Cebu is revisiting some of the biggest sporting events that made the headlines in the local papers, starting with the revival of the Tour de Cebu.
In a year when nothing good seems to come out of cycling in international arena, with winners and stars getting caught doping, local road race enthusiasts got a chance to experience the thrill of a grueling race again —minus the steroids of course—with the revival of the Tour de Cebu.
According to race director Jose Deresas, the race which was supposed to be staged every August to coincide with the founding anniversary of the province, was last staged in 2004 and because of financial constraints, the 2005 and 2006 editions were canned.
This year, it got revived.
However, the race, renamed the Omega Pain Killer Tour de Cebu, had a few rebirth pains and had to be moved twice, before it finally got off last Oct. 10 to 14, with some 80 riders distributed in 10 teams.
Race director Jose Deresas said the postponements were due to the other commitments of the other racers.
With a new backer in the International Pharmaceuticals Inc, Deresas invited national figures to participate in the 11th staging of the race and had Padyak Pinoy winner Baler Ravina competing with local cyclists. From an initial six teams, the event attracted 10 teams when it finally rolled off.
The race also highlighted the entry of Danao City ace mountain bike rider Niño Surban, Baby Maritess Bitbit, a national team member of road, track and mountain bike.
Bitbit was the lone female rider in the event but that didn’t stop Danao being considered a team to reckon.
Danao eventually finished second, just nine seconds off the winner.
Aside from the two, other big names in the event were 2004 champion Robert Villaber, who was the first to be invited for the re-staging according to Deresas and former champions Marcelino Delica, Rolando Pagnanawon and Gregorio Gabato.
Aside from Danao, other teams were from Cebu City, Cebu Province, Nueva Viscaya, Gen. Santos City, Davao City, Butuan City, Talisay City, Pangasinan and Metro Manila.
The prologue at the Mandaue North Reclamation Area ended in controversial fashion after the first placer got relegated to the last spot.
Randy Carbonera thought he was in first place but he got relegated by Ravina, winner of last summer’s Baguio to Baguio Padyak Pinoy race, after organizers found out Carbonera missed a turn.
Ravina, who skippers team Pangasinan, finished with the best time and ended the course in just five minutes 37.06 seconds, while Earl Cadampog took second place after clocking 5:37.77.
The riders finally hit the road in Stage 1 and eventual team winner Cebu Province got some divine help after they overtook Manila in the Bogo Shrine before taking the top spot in the next stages for their victory.
In the individual contest, Emilio Atillano won the overall contest after winning Stage 2, and finishing second in Stage 3 before taking the overall lead in Stage 4.
Meanwhile, race organizer Joe Deresas is hoping this year’s revival will be the start of something new for local road races. (NSM)
