Vigan City—George Oconer relied on his teammates to formally claim the overall individual title even as his Standard Insurance-Navy squad captured team honors in the 10th and final stage crown of the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 10th anniversary race here on Wednesday.
Claiming only one podium finish since the start, Oconer coasted to 16th place inside a 26-man lead pack that reached the finish line of this 35.1-kilometer criterium race around the streets of Vigan City.
The 28-year-old Oconer was greeted by a big crowd of well-wishers as soon as he reached the provincial capitol finish line and formally capture the Ronda crown, his first general classification title since joining professional races back in 2011.
Oconer remembered his days as a rookie after he raised his two arms in victory and rode his ceremonial victory lap, with an appreciative crowd cheering him on.
“Pinagbutihan ko lang. Pinaghandaan ko ito. Matagal ko nang gusto ito, lagi lang pumapalya,” said Oconer, who stands to receive the P1-million champion’s cash prize.
With Oconer staying in the back most of the time, Stage 10 criterium honors went to his teammate Jan Paul Morales, who took it in 51 minutes and 20 seconds and led a 1-2-3 podium victory by the Navymen.
Their teammates Ronald Oranza and Junrey Navarra took second and third, respectively.
Oconer started out his professional career with a 20th place overall finish in the Le Tour de Filipinas, which included an eighth-place finish in Stage 2 nine years ago.
His biggest claim to fame prior to this Ronda triumph was when he placed 19th in the Tour de Singkarak in Indonesia.
Oconer said he dedicates his win to up-and-coming riders trying to make an impact in multi-stage races.
“Mahalaga ito para sa mga siklista na katulad kong nagsisimula. Iyung mga rookies, sa susunod ay sila naman ang nandito,” said Oconer after he got a congratulatory message from Ronda chairman Moe Chulani and Standard Insurance Group chairman Ernesto “Judes” Echauz.
Oconer placed fourth in Stage 1, a 129.5-km ride around Sorsogon. Then, Oconer followed it up by ending in third place in Stage 3, a 154.5-km ride from Sorsogon City to Legazpi City.
This saw Oconer move up from fourth to third place and then to second in in Stage 4, a 205.5-km Daet-Lucena journey where he stayed at ninth place and with the Navymen taking a 1-2-3-4-5 finish.
Another 1-2-3-4-5 finish by the Navymen in Stage 5 in the 128.5-kilometer journey from Lucena to Antipolo netted for Oconer the red jersey, which he kept the rest of the way.
The Navymen, who grabbed overall team honors, also took second to sixth places (Oranza, Ronald Lomotos, John Mark Camingao and Navarra) in the overall individual standings.
Morales, who landed 12th overall, earned his third stage triumph as he stayed in front of the criterium race from start to finish.
The Navymen claimed five stage team wins, led by Morales, who is a two-time overall winner.
