Obscure rider stuns veterans

LUCENA City - Little-known Ryan Mendoza stunned the field of Marlboro Tour veterans Saturday as he ruled the individual time trial of the MAD (Mamamayan Ayaw sa Droga) Lakbay ng Pilipinas elimination race here.

Mendoza braved the heat and tough climb of the dreaded 'Tat ong M' in the town of Atimonan in topping the event participated in by 173 riders, most of them Tour veterans.

He submitted the best time of 48 minutes and 58.64 seconds in touring the 28-kilometer ITT of the race organized by Nelson Macaraig's Jonel Promotions for the National Drug Law Enforcement and Prevention Center (DEP) awareness campaign against illegal drugs.

Marlon Decena failed to sustain his speed in the early part of the race and settled for second place with a time of 49:24.25 while Rolito Pecana was third with 51:48.37 clocking.

Frederick Feliciano finished fourth with 52:01.26 followed by Jimmy Linsangan (52:13.92) and Antonio Elumba (52:19.6).

Rounding up the top 10 were John Ricafort, 7th, 52:44.14; Rodelio Valdez, 8th, 52:46.85; Ireneo Arciaga, 9th 42:47.67; and Dennis Villasemor, 10th, 52:47.67.

Top finishers in the two-day elimination races that includes Sunday's 120-kilometer massed start will quality for the MAD Lakbay ng Pilipinas Cycling Rally which kicks off on March 18.