SORSOGON City— The cloudy weather, wet road conditions and light rains that fell once in awhile in the morning over the last two days since Tuesday, are helping George Oconer and a lot of other professional riders get used to the challenges ahead.
With COVID alert levels down to their lowest, Oconer and his peers get a chance to try out the flat roads and the elements of this agricultural town before the 11th LBC Ronda Pilipinas fires off on Friday.
Two years ago, Oconer never won a stage in the Ronda, but he still claimed the overall individual honors of the prestigious bikefest. That was before the country went into lockdown because of the pandemic and no races were held since the last stage of the LBC Ronda’s 10th anniversary bikefest.
After enduring months in home quarantine, isolation and travel restrictions in his hometown in San Mateo, Rizal, the 30-year-old Oconer will be like numerous other riders from other participating teams.
Everyone will try to get the “rust” off their bodies and bring back the best in themselves as they seek to find their courage and resolve, their strengths and weaknesses and the confidence to conquer the 1,406.2-km road cycling, 13-team, 10-stage affair which will start in Sorsogon City and end in Baguio City.
Oconer will once again lead his Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance teammates as they shoot for cycling glory, just like they did in 2020.
The Navymen, who took overall team honors in 2020, are back with Ronald Oranza, El Joshua Carino, Ronald Lomotos, Junrey Navarra amd John Mark Camingao. They will also have national under-23 teammates Steve Horra and Jeremy Lizardo in their roster, with Reinhart Gorrantes as coach.
Former Navyman Jan Paul Morales, who landed 12th overall the last time around, is now with Excellent Noodles, which is skippered by Santy Barnachea.
The other squads are the Dominic Perez-led Go For Gold, the Reynaldo Navarro-captained Philippine Army, Marcelo Felipe’s Team Nueva Ecija, DReyna, Eagle Cement, Champ Café, Bike King Laguna, VPharma, Team Quezon Province and Team Ilocos Sur.
“Hindi ko pa masabi kung kaya ko,” said Oconer, who will attempt to regain his form back during his daily workouts. “Pero kakayanin ko at gagawin ko ang lahat para makuha hanggang huli.”
The first stage is a 12.3-km individual time trial around Sorsogon City, followed by a 59.4-km team time trial race.
Third stage will be a 163-km massed start from Sorsogon City to Legazpi City, followed by a 189.1 -km road fourth stage race from Legazpi City to Daet City.
Sixth stage on Monday, will be more difficult, with riders trying to endure the various road conditions from Daet City in Camarines Norte to Lucena City in Quezon.
