Ronda Pilipinas 2018: Barnachea eyes historic third title
Published Feb 14, 2018 07:30 pm
By Jerome Lagunzad
Santi Barnachea (MB file photo | Bob Dungo,jr)Even though he’s past his prime at 41, grizzled Santi Barnachea is out to prove he still has enough juice left in his tank as he seeks a historic third title in the Ronda Pilipinas 2018 presented by LBC which hits the road starting on Mar. 3 in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.
After topping the 2011 edition and regaining the throne in 2015, Barnachea will be at the forefront of newcomer Team Franzia’s title campaign this time after he earned his spot through the Ronda qualifying event in Tarlac City last year as part of his sustained comeback bid from a two-year absence.
“I want to show them that I’m not yet done and I will prove that, just like our sponsor Franzia wine, we get better in time,” he said. “I have a young and very energetic team and we are optimistic about our chances.”
Backstopping Barnachea are Leonel Dimaano, Jonggo Tabayoyong, Beejay Nojara, Kim Kenneth Krog, Dennis Gabaldon, Alshyrnel Amiladjid and Mervin Corpuz as Team Franzia hopes to make a big splash in its initial foray in the eighth edition of the country’s biggest cycling race.
Among those who are out to foil Barnachea’s lofty bid are two-time champion Jan Paul Morales of Navy-Standard Insurance, George Oconer of Go for Gold, CCN Superteam’s Irish Valenzuela, Army-Bicycology Shop’s Cris Joven and Team Bike Xtreme’s Jaybop Pagananawon.
“I’m expecting this race as the toughest for me because I will face younger, stronger opponents. But I hope to make up for it by relying on my experience,” he said.
Mark Galedo (2013) and Reimon Lapaza (2014), along with Valenzuela (2012), are the other winners in this race presented by LBC and supported by MVP Sports Foundation, CCN, Petron, Versa.ph, 3Q Sports Event Management, Inc., Boy Kanin, Franzia, Standard Insurance, Bike Xtreme, SH+, Guerciotti, Prolite, Green Planet, Maynilad, NLEX Cycling, Lightwater, LBC Foundation and PhilCycling.
A cool P1 million will be at stake in this 12-stage race that will be jumpstarted by the 40-kilometer Vigan criterium Stage One on March 3 and the 155.4km Vigan-Pagudpud Stage Two the next day.
Then the caravan continues its journey with the 223.5km Pagudpud-Tuguegarao Stage Three on March 5, 135.2km Tuguegarao-Isabela Stage Four on March 6, 179.4km Isabela-Nueva Ecija Stage Five on March 8, 111.8km Nueva Ecija-Tarlac Stage Six on March 9, 31.5km Individual Time Trial Stage Seven and 42.14km Team Time Trial Stage Eight both in Tarlac on March 10 and 11.
After a three-day break, the race continues with the 207.2km Silang-Batangas-Tagaytay Stage Nine on March 15, 147.8km Tagaytay-Calaca Stage 10 on March 16, 92.72km Calaca-Calaca Stage 11 on March 17 and the 50km Filinvest Alabang criterium Stage 12 on March 18.
Also in the hunt are teams from Nueva Ecija, Ilocos Sur, Go for Gold Developmental team, South Luzon, and Tarlac Province.
Santi Barnachea (MB file photo | Bob Dungo,jr)Even though he’s past his prime at 41, grizzled Santi Barnachea is out to prove he still has enough juice left in his tank as he seeks a historic third title in the Ronda Pilipinas 2018 presented by LBC which hits the road starting on Mar. 3 in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.
After topping the 2011 edition and regaining the throne in 2015, Barnachea will be at the forefront of newcomer Team Franzia’s title campaign this time after he earned his spot through the Ronda qualifying event in Tarlac City last year as part of his sustained comeback bid from a two-year absence.
“I want to show them that I’m not yet done and I will prove that, just like our sponsor Franzia wine, we get better in time,” he said. “I have a young and very energetic team and we are optimistic about our chances.”
Backstopping Barnachea are Leonel Dimaano, Jonggo Tabayoyong, Beejay Nojara, Kim Kenneth Krog, Dennis Gabaldon, Alshyrnel Amiladjid and Mervin Corpuz as Team Franzia hopes to make a big splash in its initial foray in the eighth edition of the country’s biggest cycling race.
Among those who are out to foil Barnachea’s lofty bid are two-time champion Jan Paul Morales of Navy-Standard Insurance, George Oconer of Go for Gold, CCN Superteam’s Irish Valenzuela, Army-Bicycology Shop’s Cris Joven and Team Bike Xtreme’s Jaybop Pagananawon.
“I’m expecting this race as the toughest for me because I will face younger, stronger opponents. But I hope to make up for it by relying on my experience,” he said.
Mark Galedo (2013) and Reimon Lapaza (2014), along with Valenzuela (2012), are the other winners in this race presented by LBC and supported by MVP Sports Foundation, CCN, Petron, Versa.ph, 3Q Sports Event Management, Inc., Boy Kanin, Franzia, Standard Insurance, Bike Xtreme, SH+, Guerciotti, Prolite, Green Planet, Maynilad, NLEX Cycling, Lightwater, LBC Foundation and PhilCycling.
A cool P1 million will be at stake in this 12-stage race that will be jumpstarted by the 40-kilometer Vigan criterium Stage One on March 3 and the 155.4km Vigan-Pagudpud Stage Two the next day.
Then the caravan continues its journey with the 223.5km Pagudpud-Tuguegarao Stage Three on March 5, 135.2km Tuguegarao-Isabela Stage Four on March 6, 179.4km Isabela-Nueva Ecija Stage Five on March 8, 111.8km Nueva Ecija-Tarlac Stage Six on March 9, 31.5km Individual Time Trial Stage Seven and 42.14km Team Time Trial Stage Eight both in Tarlac on March 10 and 11.
After a three-day break, the race continues with the 207.2km Silang-Batangas-Tagaytay Stage Nine on March 15, 147.8km Tagaytay-Calaca Stage 10 on March 16, 92.72km Calaca-Calaca Stage 11 on March 17 and the 50km Filinvest Alabang criterium Stage 12 on March 18.
Also in the hunt are teams from Nueva Ecija, Ilocos Sur, Go for Gold Developmental team, South Luzon, and Tarlac Province.