Tagaytay City–Ronald Oranza was in pain as he battled cramps, totally exhausted but victorious on three fronts when he emerged from the steep and tough mountainous route of the 603-meter high Tagaytay-Talisay Road in Sampaloc, Talisay, Batangas.
The 29-year-old Oranza was bothered by leg muscle pain as he reached the crowded finish line and claimed Stage 6 honors, the King of the Mountain accolade and the red jersey at the close of the 148.3-km odyssey from Lucena City to Tagaytay City in the 11th LBC Ronda Pilipinas on Tuesday.
His fellow Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance teammate El Joshua Carino was the only one left chasing Oranza, who was carried away by two security men when he collapsed on the pavement as soon as he crossed the Praying Hands Monument finish line area in Kaybagal South, with a time of three hours, 40 minutes and 45 seconds.
Carino only had mild cramps when he made it in second place, some 1:54 behind Morales.
Excellent Noodles bet Jan Paul Morales was in far third, behind by 1:56, with Navyman Jeremy Lizardo and Excellent Noodles’ Joshua Pascual in fourth and fifth, both trailing by 5:22.
Coach Reinhart Gorrantes gave Oranza a victory hug and helped lift him to the team tent. Oranza had taken the overall individual classification lead away from fifth stage winner Jonel Carcueva of Team Go For Gold.
Carcueva ended up in sixth spot, 5:24 behind Oranza and dropped to third overall.
“Tiis-tiis na lang, bawas na lang ng takbo,” said Oranza, who added the KOM honors to his list of achievements for day, as he and Carino made a 1-2 finish during the climb, with Morales in third.
With their 1-2 placing, the Navymen gained the overall team lead with a total time of 53 hours, 41 minutes and 47 seconds, with Excellent Noodles trailing behind by 8:31 and Team Go For Gold in third.