Ronda Pilipinas

Navy launches title drive

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine Navy-Standard Insurance will go all out to validate its status as the best cycling team in the country today as it launches its title defense in the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2019 starting tomorrow in Iloilo City.

No less than reigning champion Ronald Oranza and two-time winner Jan Paul Morales will carry the fight for the Navymen out to defend home turf after dominating the last three editions of this race that will be participated in by 15 local and foreign teams of six cyclists each.

El Joshua Carino, who topped the 10th Le Tour de Filipinas last year, is also part of a loaded Navy team that is also composed of Ronald Lomotos, Junrey Navarra and Rudy Roque.

Interestingly, Navy has lorded it over Ronda the last five editions, making it one of the favorites to top this year’s race.

“Every time we join a race, we always come in prepared, and this year is no exception especially now that we have strong foreign teams participating,” said Navy coach Reinhard Gorrantes in Filipino.

Gorrantes, however, sees an ultra-tough competition as they will compete against strong local teams like Go for Gold, 7 Eleven, Team Franzia, Bike Xtreme, Team Tarlac and Army Bicycology and stronger international squads Terengganu, Matrix, Nex Cycling Team, Korail Team Korea, Custom Cycling Indonesia, Cambodia Cycling, PGN Road Cycling and Sri Lanka Navy Cycling Team.

“There are so many strong teams like Terranganu, Matrix and Korea but we will do our best to defend the title,” said Gorrantes.

Navy, however, has found all the answers even in the presence of international teams.

In the Le Tour, Carino defied the odds and beat riders from 19 other teams which were mostly foreign squads.

“We don’t pressure ourselves that much. Our attitude has always been ‘if we win, we win. If we lose, we lose’ and it has helped us in the past,” said Gorrantes.

The whole Ronda delegation was   all accounted for as the last batch came in by ship and plane yesterday.

The opening stage is a 197.6-kilometer lap that will start and end in Iloilo tomorrow and will be followed by the 101.8km Guimaras-Guimaras Stage Two Saturday.

On Sunday, it will be the 179.4km Iloilo-Roxas Stage Three.