WITH a brand new start and renewed vigor, George Luis Oconer seeks to claim his first ever LBC Ronda Pilipinas title when the 2017 edition unfolds on Feb. 4 in Vigan, Ilocos Sur.
Riding for newcomer Go for Gold team, the 24-year-old Oconer showed his real intent by sweeping both the qualifying races in Subic last November and Bacolod City early this month that should make him one of the big favorites to win the sixth edition of the country’s biggest cycling race.
“I’m focused and determined on finally winning it this year because I feel I’m more matured now,” said Oconer, whose closest brush to winning it all came in 2015 when he finished behind two-time LBC Ronda champion Santy Barnachea, in Filipino.
Oconer, whose father Norberto is a former two-time Olympian cyclist, said he’s happy with the team, skippered by Ronnel Hualda and bannered by Boots Ryan Cayubit and Ronald Lomotos, among others, he has right now.
“I like my team because we have a combination of youth and experience,” said Oconer.
Oconer though will have a mountain to climb as he is expected to face formidable challenges that are expected to come from a Navy-Standard Insurance team that has dominated the three-leg edition this year.
A top purse worth P1 million prize awaits the champion courtesy of presentor LBC and its major sponsors Mitsubishi, Petron, ASG Group, Dans360 and Donen with sanctions from PhlCycling under its president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.
The Lloyd Lucien Reynante-captained Navy squad has reigned supreme in the Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao legs with Jan Paul Morales and Ronald Oranza sharing honors with the former winning two and the latter one.
But Oconer is just focused on one thing—victory.
“If I race intelligently, I will have a strong chance,” said Oconer.
Other former champions of Ronda were Santy Barnachea (first and fifth editions), Mark Galedo (second), Irish Valenzuala (third) and Reimon Lapaza (fourth).
The main race starts on Feb. 4 with two stages in Ilocos Sur and will pass by Angeles (Feb. 8), Subic (Feb. 9), Lucena, Quezon (Feb. 12), Pili, Camarines Norte (Feb. 14 and 16), Daet (Feb. 17), Paseo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna (Feb. 19), Tagaytay and Batangas (Feb. 20), Calamba and Antipolo (Feb. 21), Bacolod, Don Salvador and San Carlos (Feb. 28) before wrapping up with a pair of stages in Iloilo City (March 3 and 4).