NAGA City— Australian rider Jai Crawford soared to a strong start, taking the lead early as cloudy skies with light to moderate rains turned difficult parts of the 177.35 km second stage of the Le Tour de Filipinas from Sorsogon City to Naga City into a wet and strength-sapping ride.
But by the time Crawford got to the 1.35-kilometer coastal mountain passes of Patitinan in Sagñay, Camarines Sur, the rain was over and Kinan Cycling Team’s top rider faded into the background.
Another Australian in Sean Whitfield of Oliver’s Real Food Racing took charge as they headed downhill, snatching Stage 2 honors.
The rain was already over when he towed a 29-man group into the finish line in the last 10 kilometers. They stepped it and joined Crawford with 3 kilometers left.
The 21-year-old Whitfield emerged ahead of the big main pack in 4 hours, 19 minutes and 21 seconds, together with Stage 1 winner Daniel Whitehouse and top Filipino rider Mark Galedo.
“So with 10 kms to go, we started riding. We caught them with 3 kilometers to go,” said Whitfield, who followed Team Ukyo riders Nathan Earle and Eiichi Hirai before he finally moved up into the lead.
Crawford was holding a 5 minute, 32 minute lead in the last 30 kilometers when he and Whitfield stepped it up and gave chase on the flat road.
Taking second place honors was Park Sanghong of LX Cycling Team, while Kuwait Cartucho’s Fernando Grijalba ended up third.
7-Eleven’s Edgar Nieto and Filipino teammate Rustom Lim bounced back from Stage 1’s bad start as they managed to stay with the lead group.
“Nakabawi ako ngayon. Nagka-mechanical trouble ako kahapon. Gusto naming dalhin ang team,” said Lim, who had braking issues the other day.
It was Whitfield’s first stage victory in an International Cycling Union race as he displayed incredible stamina with his climbing skills over hills connecting Albay and Camarines Sur.
Crawford eventually emerged as the King of the Mountain before his legs gave up on his way out of the pass’ sharp bends as the peloton headed northwest to Naga City before lunch.
Whitehouse gained a cumulative time of 8:15.24 in the individual general classification standings, with Benjamin Hill of Attaque Team Gusto behind by 1:57.
National team members George Oconer and Mervin Corpuz were 2:25 behind in a two-man seventh group.
“Matulin masyado. Hindi kinaya,” said national coach Norberto Oconer as he described how Filipino riders performed over the pace of the race as Whitfield and the lead group increased their speed to 60 kph entering Naga City.