Veteran rider Santy Barnachea is retiring soon to coach a younger generation of professional cyclists.
Barnachea made this clear at the end of the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 10th anniversary race.
He said he wasn’t even supposed to compete with Team Scratch It. But their team manager Jeremy Go asked him to stay on and lead the younger generation of riders.
“Dapat hindi na ako kasali sa Ronda, pero pinakiusapan ako na dalhin ang team. Ang ensayo ko kasi ay hindi ganoon kataas ang level,” said Barnachea.
Barnachea really felt it was time to go when 26-year-old Kenneth Solis of Team Tarlac-Central Luzon earned his best finish in a professional race in five years.
Barnachea’s decision not to go for the stage win in the final kilometer became a cue for a five-man breakaway group to leave him behind.
Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance came up with their best finish, behind George Oconer when he won the overall individual honors.
Teammates led by 2018 titlist Ronald Oranza, Ronald Lomotos, John Mark Camingao, Junrey Navarra and El Joshua Carino were in second to sixth places.
Barnachea made a comeback in 2018 when he joined newcomer Team Franzia in the Ronda Pilipinas 2018.
He won the inaugural race in 2011 and repeated as champion in 2015.