Baguio City—Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance’s Ronald Lomotos banked on good climbing skills to grab Stage 9 honors and wrest the general classification leadership on Saturday in the 11th Ronda Pilipinas during a difficult chase from the lowlands of Santiago, Isabela and the treacherous Nueva Vizcaya back roads to Baguio City.
When it was over, the 26-year-old Lomotos reached the finish line of the 187.6-km stage ahead of the pack and in his lonesome in six hours, five minutes and four seconds, to earn his first-ever lap title in the bikefest.
Lomotos, who had no intention to claim the red jersey from the start, learned that he had snatched the overall individual honors from teammate Ronald Oranza after he initially gained 13 minutes during his ascent up the Benguet-Nueva Ecija Road in Bokod.
In the end, Lomotos tallied a total time of 34 hours, 13 minutes and 48 seconds, with four of his teammates from the Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance team in a dominant position at the top of the general classification standings, including Oranza, who trails him by just 21 seconds. His teammates El Joshua Carino and Jeremy Lizardo were in third and fourth, behind by 18:54 and 19:05, respectively.
The feat put Lomotos closer to the P1-million top purse at stake for the general classification winner.Former Ronda leader Excellent Noodles’ Jan Paul Morales, who had been seeking a chance to overtake Oranza, fell further behind at no. 7, trailing the new leader by 23:35, after he checked in at the Burnham Park endpoint in 19th place.
“Game-plan lang namin ay samahan si Oranza hanggang umpisa ng climb. Nagbabantayan kasi ang mga general classification leaders,” said Lomotos, who was escorting Oranza since the start with teammates Carino, Jeremy Lizardo and defending champion George Oconer.
But when Oranza began slowing down at the muddy and slippery roads after heavy rain briefly fell on the 2,205-meter high Mt. Bokod, many others who were following him also dropped behind.
“Nag-try akong pumunta sa harapan at nagbaka-sakali ako. Sinabi ko sa sarili na susugal na ako,” added Lomotos, who picked up pace once reaching the road summit of the 11-km uphill climb overlooking the scenic Ambuklao River.
Excellent Noodles’Joshua Pascual and Joshua Bonifacio reached the finish line together, behind by eight minutes and 27 seconds for second and third place, respectively, in the stage. Lomotos said things could still change in another tough showdown in Stage 10 on Sunday, a 3.1-km criterium race, which takes riders uphill from Burnham Park to Session Road.