PROTECT THE LEAD. Ronald Oranza of Navy Standard Insurance prepares his bike as he vowed to protect the lead as the 11th LBC Ronda Pilipinas approaches its final four stages including Stage Seven from Tarlac City to Baler, Aurora on Thursday (March 17, 2022). Oranza grabbed the red jersey after ruling the Stage Six on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of Ronda Pilipinas)
TARLAC CITY – Ronald Oranza of Navy Standard Insurance goes all out to protect the overall lead he grabbed following a scintillating Stage Six performance as the 11th LBC Ronda Pilipinas approaches its final four stages including Thursday’s Stage Seven that starts here and ends in Baler, Aurora.
Oranza, 30, survived a flat rear tire and battled cramps to blow away the field and snatch the individual general classification lead from erstwhile leader Jonel Carcueva of Go for Gold and the red LBC jersey that the former will wear in the 180.4-kilometer stage that would start at 9 a.m. in front of the provincial capitol.
After six stages packed in five grueling, backbreaking days, the 2018 Ronda king has zoomed to the top with an aggregate time of 18 hours, 46 minutes and four seconds ahead of Excellent Noodles’ Jan Paul Morales (18:46:46) and Carcueva (18:49:01).
Chasing Oranza were Mervin Corpuz of Excellent Noodles (18:50:51), Jeremy Lizardo of Navy Standard Insurance (18:52:36), Mar Francis Sudario of Excellent Noodles (18:55:01), Ronald Lomotos of Navy Standard Insurance (18:55:04), Jericho Jay Lucero of Go for Gold (18:55:10), Daniel Ven Carino (18:56:21), and John Mark Camingao of Navy Standard Insurance (18:56:45).
“I will do my best to protect the lead,” said the Villasis, Pangasinan native.
Oranza said he did light workout and spin training and drank a dose of hydration salt with some bananas on the side during Wednesday’s much-needed respite with hopes of preventing cramps again going into the final phase of this annual cycling spectacle.
“It was very light because we wanted to rest our riders,” Navy Standard Insurance coach Reinhard Gorrantes said.
Oranza will also try to protect his lead in the King of the Mountain race as well as Navy’s lead in the team event where they have a total clocking of 53:41:57 ahead of Go for Gold (54:00:28) and Excellent Noodles (54:29:24).
Morales, the 2016 and 2017 titlist, for his part, remained optimistic of his chances.
“Anything can happen in the last four stages so everybody still has a chance,” said the 36-year-old former Navy skipper.
This annual event stakes a PHP3.5 million cash pot including PHP1 million to the champion courtesy of LBC Express, Inc., MVP Sports Foundation, Quad X, Smart, Twin Cycle Gear, Standard Insurance, Print2Go, Elves Bicycles, Elitewheels, Orome, Maynilad, PhilHydro, Garmin, Petron, Boy Kanin, Green Planet Bikeshop, Prolite, Fujiwara, Black Mamba Energy Drink, Lightwater, LBC Foundation, PhilCycling and the Games and Amusements Board. (PR)
