Joven tops Tagaytay race

MANILA, Philippines - Veteran Cris Joven poured it all in a mad dash to the finish to win by a hair PhilCycling president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino’s annual cycling road race recently in Tagaytay City.

Joven nipped Oscar Rindole and Mark Bonzo by a bike’s length to earn the top of the podium after the 127-km out and back route that took the 106 finishers to Lian, Batangas, and back.

All three, plus 33 others who were part of the bunched finish, clocked two hours, 37 minutes and 22.87 seconds. The next group came in at 2:40:55.38.

Rounding out the top 10 in the annual event dubbed Pista ng Pag-ibig Cycling Race that is held on Valentine’s Day by Tolentino, mayor of Tagaytay City, were Francisco Ramos, John Mier, Dante Cagas, Irish Valenzuela, Gelard Mendoza, Santy Barnachea and Dino Hipolito.

The race was declared open to all elite cyclists regardless of affiliation in the ongoing row that is denying Tolentino and the PhilCycling the recognition from the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC).

The Union Cycliste Internationale has time and again reaffirmed its recognition of Tolentino as the legitimate cycling federation head of the country.