Stage 3:
27th June, 2010 /// Clark Freeport Centennial Road
Distance: 127 kms Highest point: 238m
Terrain: Flat with Gradual Climb Category: Road race circuit 25km/loop
The top 10 placings were still up for grabs coming into the final stage including the Yellow Jersey
A break away opportunity is on the list for the longest stage of the League at 127kms. With 5 visits of the 4km sprinter’s climb with the summit point at 235metres in Fonatana, and plenty of riding in the open plains of the Clark Freeport zone.
Today's stage passes thru Clark Freeport's wide 5 lane highways where riders will be exposed to strong cross and headwinds climaxing in the Subic Clark Tarlac expressway south exit toll. This course offers arguably the best chance so far for a breakaway specialist.
A view of the SCTEX overpass
It might even be that the breakaway rider will take the yellow Jersey if the overall contenders decide to hold back and the sprinter’s teams have lost the will or energy to chase. It will be up to Victor Viray’s boys to check any break attempt in order to keep the yellow jersey. Letting a less fancied rider and team take yellow on this stage would be a disaster. JAC Motors have never been in a position to defend yellow and this could be the greatest test yet.
iTime Solutions, the local distributor of Times-7 technology is the official electronic timing system of the PPCL Championship Series
Mikki Quilala, head of the electronic timing team, meticulously prepares the timing box. The recent hundreths of a second difference of the top finishing riders has made e-timing a must for mass participation events like PPCL
Brand new sponsors came out in full force to support the series. Nivea for men gave out free products for participants.
Sun Cellular was the official mobile telecommunications partner of the Tour of Clark. Participants enjoyed the Get 1 FREE 1 phone promo . Sun Cellular sales representatives were present in all three stages assisting participants who were qualified by virtue of their invitation.
Jelly Belly Sport Beans is the official energy beans supplier of the Premiere League. Participants recieve free sports beans before and after stages which can be handy for a long day on the saddle like today's stage 3. Jelly Belly is becoming synonymous with the Premiere League. They have been the number 1 supporter of the series since it's inaugural round in January
The enigmatic Stephen Domingo took the helm as the master of ceremony and kicked started the morning snooze as he interviews PPCL Chairman and LPGMA President Arnel Ty. The Chairman has re-affirmed his support to the Premiere League and has already directed planning for the 2011 season.
Riders started to trickle down one by one as names were called.
Stephen starts the countdown as teams prepare for the longest stage of this year's Championship series. 127kms of expressways in Clark Freeport's most beautiful Highways and modern facilities. The peleton will enjoy the most challenging finishing straights in the series with a full 3kms before ending in a sprint seen here in the background.
The front and tail end of the peleton as they approach the main artery of Clark Freeport on their first of 5 laps. The Tour caravan can be seen on the far end with the Tour official paramedics team. The full support of the Clark Traffic management group kept motorists and riders safe all throughout the weekend.
Leading the front end of the Junior League is PLDT under 15 rider Rudolph Carolino. The Juniors were sent off ahead of the men's division and the fight for the yellow was as exciting asthe elite men. Allen Santiago arrived at the start as the yellow jersey holder after a superb stage 1 ITT followed closely by Cebu cycling junior sensation Luis Maximo. The cat and mouse tactic proved to be costly as Carolino took advantage of the situation and rode away on the half way point
Calm before the storm. The peleton approaches the end of the first lap and is expecting a flury of attacks as they enter the second stretch. Victor Viray's JAC motors will be keen to check all possible threat to his yellow jersey and is a tall order considering the big teams they will be up against. First on his list will be second place rival Ronnie Cuevas who is only a handful of seconds away from snatching yellow
PLDT's Grover Baysa attacks the opening 2nd lap in an effort to disrupt the pacing duties of JAC motors. Third place on the GC, Cruz is closely followed by Dennis Papag of Abotiz Power
The relentless chase strung out the peleton as they enter the main superhighway of Clark Freeport zone towards the SCTEX south exit.
Stalemate as the peleton comes back together after they exited the climbs of Fontana and approached the long flat roads towards the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway. The peleton enters one of the express way overpass tunnels that became a "a weird" experience after voices were heard........made by themselves
The group spreads across the road as teams try to sort out who will initiate the next attacks
On the 40th kilometer of the 127kms, the SUUNTO pair of Lloyd Santos and Anton Celestino were able to escape the clutches of the pack and formed a formidable two man TT
Squads recognized the danger of the duo and reacted more actively. A long range pursuit ensued to close the gap
In a rare team appearance, Full Circle sent a man to the front to help in the chase and gradually chipped off the advantage of the two who can bee seen in the distance.
Jeoffrey Saavedra looks over his shoulder as his Pioneer Insurance team finally closed the gap to the two after being away for only 5kms. The pair could only give a respond fitting with a look of surrender
In a daring solo attack in the last lap of the 127km road race queen stage, Ronald Cuevas was able to sneak out and capitalized when JAC Motors were caught out sleeping inside the peleton
Cuevas kept a steady pace and survive the lone break which left GC man Victory Viray who started the day in yellow with a 12 second lead, lose the jersey due to a strategic miscalculation. He only had to finish in the group to keep the yellow but his Jac Motors team ran out of steam - literally - and was not able to organize a chase group to reel in Cuevas with 20kms to go.
Sprint Sequence of the chasing bunch. Lloyd Santos survived the last group who attempted to close down the gap to Cuevas who came close. His 4 other break companions were not so lucky as they were swallowed 700meters to the finish. Manny Reynante of Pioneer Insurance finished 3rd salvaging his team's Tour drought.
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Cuevas finished alone and took the yellow from Viray with a 42 second lead, just enough to overahaul his 12 second deficit after stage two.
Leian cruz - guest rider for GeoEstate was able to survive a flat after a team mate Henry Se sacrificed a wheel with one and a half laps to go after chasing 10 kms at 60kph. But it took it's toll as he was only able to manage 5th in the final group sprint but just barely enough to secure his 7 second lead for 3rd overall. Custer Sadornas of LPGMA - the Tour of Subic champion ended the tour at 4th place.
Manny Reynante (Pioneer) 3rd, Victor Viray (JAC) 4th, Custer Sadornas (LPGMA) 5th, Leian Cruz 6th - ALL finishing on the same time
Ronald Cuevas - Stage 3 winner and eventual yellow jersey champion for the 2010 NIVEA LPGMA Tour of Clark
Lloyd Santos makes up for the failed break with his team mate but makes up for it in the final taking Silver
Cruz survives a flat tire and long chase to recover and finish with the front chasers to maintain his 7 second lead from Custer Sadornas of LPGMA to remain 3rd overall in the General Classification
Our under 15 podium winners with Carolino of PLDT walking away with the Yellow jersey in the final stage
And for the the rest of us, finishing the tour was as good as gold...................
