TAGAYTAY CITY. – Ronald Oranza of Navy Standard Insurance unleashed his dormant mountain-climbing skills to rule Stage Six and wrest the overall individual lead from Jonel Carcueva of Go for Gold Tuesday in the 11th LBC Ronda Pilipinas race.
Oranza conquered the dreaded Talisay-Tagaytay Road, a difficult 11.7-kilometer uphill climb consisting of 10 hairpins, to rule the 148.3-kilometer stage that started in Lucena and ended in front of the Praying Hands here in three hours, 40 minutes and 45 seconds.
The 2018 Ronda king raised his arms in jubilation after checking in at the finish where he was welcomed by a huge, cheering crowd that chanted and shouted his name.
The 29-year-old Villasis, Pangasinan fell to the ground as he suffered leg cramps on both legs and was carried by two security men straight to their team tent where he was met by his emotional coach Reinhard Gorrantes, who hugged and cried with him in jubilation.
“I didn’t expect I would take the red jersey, but I’m glad I did,” said Oranza.
El Joshua Carino, Oranza’s teammate, checked in at second in 3:42:39 while former red LBC jersey wearer Jan Paul Morales of Excellent Noodles came in third in 3:42:41.
The Herculean effort catapulted Oranza from No. 6 in the individual general classification race to the top with a total clocking of 18:46:04 while bumping Carcueva, who clocked 3:46:09 for the stage, down to third in 18:49:01.
Morales, who held No. 1 from Stage One to Four before Carcueva snatched it in Stage Five, kept his grip of No. 2 in 18:46:46.
Oranza suffered a flat tire in Cuenca, Batangas but got a spare in time to rally back to the lead.
The results shook up the standings again as Mervin Corpuz of Excellent Noodles skidded to No. 4 from No. 3 in 18:50:51, Jeremy Lizardo of Navy Standard Insurance leapfrogged to No. 5 from No. 13 in 18:52:36, and Mar Francis Sudario of Excellent Noodles jumped to No. 6 from No. 12 in 18:55:01.
Other movements saw Ronald Lomotos of Navy Standard Insurance improve to No. 7 from No. 8 in 18:55:04, Jericho Jay Lucero of Go for Gold ascend to No. 8 from No. 9 in 18:55:10, Daniel Ven Carino fall to No. 9 from No. 4 in 18:56:21, and John Mark Camingao of Navy Standard Insurance slip to No. 10 from No. 5 in 18:56:45.
