11th leg of Ronda Pilipinas cycling ends in Pangasinan

By Venus H. Sarmiento

Friday 8th of June 2012

PANGASINAN, June 8 (PIA) -- The 11th Leg of Ronda Pilipinas Road Cycling Championships commenced in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija, and ended at the Capitol Plaza in Lingayen town here.

In the welcome ceremonies held last June 5, Vice Governor Ferdinand Calimlim Jr. said that the province has loved cycling as he thanked the organizers for choosing Pangasinan as one of the legs of Ronda Pilipinas 2012.

Race Director Rick Rodriguez articulated his innermost thanks for the accommodation accorded by the provincial government for this sporting event

Provincial Administrator Rafael Baraan warmly welcomed the cyclists, and cited that the province has been producing top cyclists in the Philippines that include Ronda Pilipinas 2011 champion Santi Barnachea and valued cycling icons of Pangasinan Jess Garcia and Jacinto Sicam.

Baraan said he wishes that one among the Pangasinan riders would be able to sustain momentum in the next five legs to win the race.

Four Pangasinan cyclists ruled the 120 kilometer race led by Alfie Catalan of San Manuel who came in first with two hours, 40 minutes, and 27 seconds. Following closely behind Catalan were his fellow riders from Pangasinan Arnel Quirimit of Pozorrubio and Umingan resident Ferdinand Pablo based on a report released by the Provincial Information Office.

Catalan bagged home cash prize of P50,000 while Quirimit received P25,000 and Pablo P15,000.

Another Pangasinan rider, 19-year-old Ronald Oranza, who competed in the Under-23 race category took the yellow/gold jersey.

Other race leaders who hit the mark and secured jerseys in this leg are Mark John Lexer (Red Jersey); Irish Valenzuela (White Jersey – King of the Mountains), and Joven Cris (Blue Jersey – Best Sprinter).

The provincial government of Pangasinan also gave a special award to team West Central and Western Pangasinan for carrying the banner of the province in this national sports spectacle.

A fellowship night at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center (PTDC) sponsored by the provincial government was held in the evening of June 5 to entertain the riders, who will again battle for the 12th leg of the race, held last June 7 from Lingayen to the highlands of Baguio City. (ANL/VHS-PIA 1 Pangasinan with reports from PIO)