CEBU CITY -- Jan Paul Morales summoned the fierce warrior in him and blazed the road to victory in a thrilling, high-speed bunch finish during the Go For Gold Criterium Race Series 2 at the City Di Mare.

The reigning national champion from Standard Insurance continental team extricated himself from a tightly rolling phalanx of riders and sprinted away in the final 50 meters in beating Esteve Hora Jr. of SIP team and Go For Gold’s Marc Ryan Lago to the line.

Morales, a two-time local Tour champion and sprint specialist, clocked 55:00.79 in the men’s elite category after racing through 35 laps at the 1.1-kilometer course with Hora, the Go For Gold Criterium Race Series 1 champion early this year, and Lago less than a second behind.

``Naghintay ako ng tamang pagkakataon at nabiyayaan ng maganda sa dulo,’’ said Morales at the end of the day-long series of races that aimed to bring back the animated local atmosphere in the sport.

The second phase of the three-leg race series was backed by Go For Gold, Scratchit, BOOSTER C, MAGENE, SPN Cycle, IPI, City Di Mare, CCN, Hytera, Gatorade, NeoZigma, CCLEX, Nickel Asia Corporation, the Cebu City government, Cebu City Vice Mayor Dondon Hontiveros and PhilCycling.

Mathilda Krogg shared the limelight by topping the women’s open in 41:04.71 (20 laps) while her Standard Insurance teammates Raven Joy Valdez and Angela Joy Marie Bermejo checked in second and third with just a fraction of a second behind.

``Thank you to all Cebuano cyclists and cycling fans for coming over. Also, the support of Cebu City Vice Mayor Dondon Hontiveros made it doubly successful,” said Go For Gold founder Jeremy Go, who also expressed gratitude to the cycling teams that competed.

Steven Tablizo saw a narrow path to victory and took it in the men’s under-23 category to the frustration of SIP’s Rrking Roque and James Paul Ryan Escumbien.

John Arwin Velasco cut loose in the last three laps to show the way in a 1-2 finish for Go For Gold in the men junior category.

Velasco soloed it home in completing the 22km top-acceleration pursuit in 32:03.37 followed by teammate Marvin Mandac (23.14 seconds behind) and UTB’s Clent Detalla (23.20).

Mary Gweniele Francisco nosed out Vianne Angel Pagnanawon in claiming the women junior title after racing for 16 laps in 36 minutes and 35 seconds.

Prince Jay Elbanbuena secured the men’s youth accolade in 26:45.48 after beating Clyde Deiparine of Gealon Racing Team and Juanito Gilbuela III of MACYC in a gripping race to the line while Maritanya Krog ruled the women youth after 12 laps (28:11.64) over Maria Louisse Alejado and Yvonne Alejado.

In the manager’s category, Philip Sainz rode solo to the finish in 27:25.71 for the win with Edgar Pastor arriving second (17.80) and Ryan Sayre placing third (33.70).

``Aside from organizing safe and well-run races in order to elevate the sport of cycling in the Philippines, these races serve as talent identification,’’ said Go. ``Always remember to go for gold and we’ll see you in our next leg.’’

Veteran cyclist Ronnel Hualda zoomed to the finish in the last few hundred meters to topple Jessie Sanchez of Keith Defiebre Cycling Team and Ramonito Espinosa and grab the title the men’s 40 and above category in 32:21.36.

Roy Carbonera reigned supreme in the men’s 30-39 category over 20 laps (34:46.32) with Ramonito Espinosa winding up second and Albert Basirgo ending up third.

The final leg of this year’s criterium series will be staged either September or October in Mindanao.