Morales a ride away from record LBC win

ILOILO CITY , Philippines  – Jan Paul Morales all but wrapped up a record back-to-back LBC Ronda Pilipinas feat with an eighth-place finish in the punishing Stage 13 topped by Mark Julius Bordeos, foiling his rivals and keeping his lead intact at the Iloilo Business Park here yesterday.

Bordeus, 21, beat a slew of rivals in a mad dash to the finish to rule the grueling 209-km penultimate stage that featured ascents in Antique for the Kinetix Lab-Army bet’s first victory this year.

He timed in five hours, 19 minutes, one second, the same clocking posted by Navy’s Ronald Lomotos, Kinetix Lab-Army’s Cris Joven, RC Cola-NCR’s Leonel Dimaano, Mindanao Sultan Kudarat’s Roel Quitoy and another Armyman Lord Anthony del Rosario. But Bordeus took the lap honors with Lomotos winding up second while Joven finishing third.

“It was a tiring lap and I’m happy I won,” said Bordeus.

The 31-year-old Morales also expressed delight after moving one stage away from becoming the first back-to-back champion as he finished at No. 8 in 5:19:10, just seven seconds behind No. 7 Marvin Tapic of Army with 5:19:03.

Today’s 14th and final stage, a 50-km criterium, also at the Iloilo Business Park, will also serve as Morales’ coronation ride.

“Yes, I think I’ve won it already,” said Morales.

Heading to the final stage, Morales has snared five stage wins, including the Stage Two criterium in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, the Angeles-Subic Stage Three, the Pili-Daet Stage Seven and the Stage Nine criterium in Sta. Rosa, Laguna and the Stage Two Individual Time Trial in Guimaras Thursday.

With his superb all around performance, Morales is also a cinch to win the best sprinter and king of the mountain titles.

His team is also set to run away with the championship with a total time of 172:24:43 with Kinetix Lab-Army in second with 173:14:52 and Go for Gold at third with 173:24:23.

Morales thanked his supporters, including his family – wife Leni, six-year-old daughter Janel and two-year-old son Jan Paul, Jr. – for his impending victory.

“My family is my inspiration and I dedicate this to them for supporting me all the way,” he said.

Joven is at third overall with 44:06:55 followed by Go for Gold’s Bryant Sepnio (44:17:58), Dimaano (44:18:25), Lomotos (44:19:15), Navy’s Daniel Ven Carino (44:22:09), Navy skipper Lloyd Lucien Reynante (44:22:59) and Army’s Reynaldo Navarro (44:25:40) and Ronnilan Quita (44:27:00).

Ronda is presented by LBC and in partnership with MVP Sports Foundation, Petron, Mitsubishi, Versa.ph, Partas, Maynilad, Standard Insurance, CCN, Bike Xtreme, NLEX, PhilCycling and 3Q Sports Event Management.