Aussie, Galedo take first stage

BALANGA, Bataan, Philippines – The Top 2 individual performers in last year’s Le Tour de Filipinas picked up from where they left off as Australian second placer Eric Sheppard and Filipino holder Mark John Galedo quickly stormed into the front in the opening leg of the tour’s sixth edition that started and ended here.

Sheppard, who finished 1:03 behind Galedo in their dispute for the final classification plum in 2014, beat the Pinoy ace by four bike-lengths to take lap honors in the 126-km out-and-back race on Bataan’s rolling hills.

The 23-year-old Sheppard of Taiwan’s Attaque Team Gusto and Galedo of 7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines got identical clockings of three hours, 16.3 seconds as did two others with them in a four-man sprint finish, Frenchman Thomas Lebas of Bridgestone Anchor and Oleg Zemiakov of the Kazakh national team.

Sheppard duplicated his opening-day feat of last year, which saw him win the kickoff stage from Clark to Olongapo City, a route that also passed through Abucay, Morong, Subic and Olongapo back then.

“It was an interesting stage, it was similar to last year but we did it in reverse, “ said Sheppard, who punched the air upon crossing the finish line in front of Bataan Tourism Center along Roman National Highway.

“I felt pretty good last year but I felt much better this year and a bit more comfortable in the bunch,” added Sheppard, now sporting a beard and a more rugged look.

Galedo put himself within striking distance early on, unlike last when he placed 31st in Stage One and had to work double time in the last three laps to snatch the title.

“Magandang bonus ito sa akin na maaga ako nakapunta sa harapan (It’s a bonus getting a good start and being among the frontrunners this early),” said the 29-year-old Galedo, who was supposed to spearhead the Phl national team but had to go back to 7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines, his mother continental team, at the last minute in compliance with UCI rules.