Standard Insurance Philippines zoomed to first place in the team time trial segment of the MPTC Tour of Luzon during Stage 2, the only lap that showcased each of the 16 squads in a race against the clock.
Vigan City, Ilocos Sur—Ronald Oranza anticipated a clear victory for Standard Insurance Philippines in the team time trial of the MPTC Tour of Luzon.
Oranza’s seasoned team composed of mostly cycling champions themselves didn’t disappoint him.
They ruled Stage 2 of the eight-stage Tour presented by DuckWorld PH and Cignal on Friday and although it had no bearing on the team general classification race, Standard Insurance made a statement that certainly struck fear into the hearts of the opposition.
"Ine-expect namin na maipanalo ito, masaya lahat at nakuha namin," said Oranza after they clocked one hour, 22 minutes and 31 second in completing the 68.5-kilometer ride from Paoay to this city famed for its careful preservation of Spanish colonial architecture.
Go For Gold Philippines placed second, 2:08 slower than the stage winner, in the only lap that showcased each of the 16 squads in a race against the clock.
7Eleven Cliqq Roadbike Philippines reached the podium with the same time as Go For Gold with MPT Drivehub Cycling Team dropping to fourth despite finishing 1:47 behind Standard Insurance due to an infraction.
Rounding out the top 10 were Excellent Noodles Cycling Team (2:25 behind), Exodus Army Cycling Team (2:36), Malaysia Pro Cycling (2:48), D’ Reyna Orion Cement (3:21), Victoria Sports Cycling Team (3:23) and Bryton Racing Team (4:42).
The clocking of each of the 16 teams in the TTT was determined by the fourth rider of the squad who crossed the line in front of the Ilocos Sur provincial capitol within the city.
Hong Kong’s CCN Team had dropped out of the team race after its cyclists got decimated to just three during the opening stage Thursday won by Joo Dae Yeong of South Korea’s Gapyeong Cycling Team.
"Nasira kadena ng isa sa mga kasama namin si Dave Cayangao sa unang tatlong kilometro kaya nagtulungan na lang kami," said Oranza, who placed second overall during Stage 1 in Paoay on Thursday.
The individual general classification champion will earn P500,000 while the team champion brings home P1 million in the race also backed by Pilipinas Live, Meralco, Maynilad, Metro Pacific Health, Megaworld, Landco, PLDT and Smart.
Stage 3 of the race endorsed by the POC, Philippine Sports Commission, Games and Amusements Board, BCDA and MVP Sports Foundation is a largely flat 133.30-kilometer ride going to San Juan, La Union, the nation’s surfing capital.
The champion will be crowned when the race ends in Baguio City on May 1.