ALAMINOS CITY–Former Tour Pilipinas 2nd runner-up Erickson Obosa, 28, of Manaoag won the 200-kilometer Tour of Pangasinan (Pichay Cup) after he unleashed a finishing kick in the last 300 meters to outsprint four breakaway partners.

Renato Sembrano, also of Mangaldan, Tour Pilipinas Rookie of the Year in 2005, bagged the second prize, while   Sherwin Carrera, 22, 3rd; Tour de Langkawi (Malaysia) veteran  Rene Esteban, 27, of San Fabian,  4th; Pepito Caluza, 22 of San Jacinto, 5th; Elmo Ramos of Binalonan, 6th; former Tour Pilipinas champion Arnel Querimit, 7th; former Philippine team member Reynaldo Navarro of San Jacinto, Pangasinan, 8th; Harvey Sicam, nephew of the late Marlboro Tour champion Jacinto Sicam, 9th, and Enrique Domingo of San Carlos City, Tour Pilipinas “sprint king,” l0th placer.

Some 88 cyclists, many of them veterans of the Tour of Luzon, Tour Pilipinas and the Marlboro Tour, participated in the province-wide race that started at l0 a.m. in Mangaldan and ended at 2:30 p.m. here.

Obosa received the championship trophy from Mayor Hernani Braganza, civic leader Boying Palafox of Bani and Jason Velalsco, who represented senatorial candidate Prospero Pichay, businessman Oscar Angeles and race director Jesus Garcia during the awarding rites at the city auditorium here.

In his speech, Mayor Braganza thanked Pichay and his relatives in Pangasinan for initiating the cycling classic which highlighted the province’s celebration of Pista’y Dayat on May 1, the biggest summer festival in Pangasinan.

Aside from Pichay who traces his roots in Ilocos, the other sponsors of the tour were House Speaker Jose de Venecia, Governor Victor Agbayani, Commisioner Alipio Fernandez, lawyer Raul Lambino, Mayor Hermie Romero of Mangaldan town and civic leader Palafox.

Garcia, former Tour of Luzon, Tour Pilipinas and Marlboro Tour champion, described the event as most orderly and colorful.

Agbayani said the province-wide event has showcased the premier province’s scenic spots and beautiful beaches.

The cyclists raced through Pangasinan’s well-paved highway that passed the towns and cities of Sta. Barbara,Calasiao, Malasiqui, Bayambang, Bautista, Villasis, Mangatarem, Aguilar,    Bugallon, Socony Junction, Labrador, Sual, Alaminos, Mabini, Agno, Bani and Alaminos.

Share your Comments or Reactions

comments

Powered by Facebook Comments