YOUTHFUL and largely inexperienced rider Eduardo Nardo of San Manuel town stunned the province’s cycling fans by ruling the much-ballyhooed anti-drug bikefest last Monday which was participated in by top amateur cyclists in the province and neighboring provinces.

Nardo, 18, a neophyte in this kind of cycling event contested by 82 accredited contestants, outsprinted his five breakaway partners in the last 300 meters to pocket the P5,000 top prize plus P1,000 for topping the summit sprint in San Jacinto town courtesy of Sr. Insp. Ferdinand de Asis, San Jacinto’s chief of police.

Veteran road players Benigno Molina and Randy Castanares both from Mangaldan finished second and third and earned P4,000 and P3,300, respectively.

The top three winners also received trophy apiece donated by Malasiqui lass Rachel “Baby” Arenas.

Another San Manuel pride 17 year-old Jayson Duran checked in fourth worth P2,000 while Sta. Barbara lone participant Loreto dela Carsel landed fifth good for P1,000 plus P500 for winning the Calasiao summit sprint sponsored by 2nd Engineering District Engr. Rodolfo “Boy Dion,

The first five that crossed the finish line had an identical time of three hours, 30 minutes and 23 seconds for the 124 kilometers flat and well paved trek.

Rounding up the top ten are, Jardin Fernandez of Llanera, Nueva Ecija, 6th, P900; Ariel Flores of Mangaldan, 7th, P800; Norman Pablo of Umingan, 8th, P700; Ryan Angeles of Rizal, Nueva Ecija, 9th, P600; Nicanor Agustin of Guimba, Nueva Ecija, 10th, P500.

The fourth to tenth placers were given a medal each by Miss Arenas, while the 11th to 70th finishers received an incentive prize of P200 apiece.   

The road race dubbedas “Siklista Laban Sa Droga Cycling Challenge” started and ended at Malasiqui town which led cyclists traversing the municipalities of Bayambang, Basista, Urbiztondo, Mangatarem, Aguilar, Bugallon, Lingayen, Binmaley, Dagupan City, Calasiao, Sta. Barbara, Mangaldan, San Jacinto, Manaoag and Mapandan.

The event was sponsored by the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) headed by Gov. Victor Agbayani and co-chaired by Provincial Director Sr. Supt. Allan Purisima and under the direction of Vice Gov. Oscar Lambino, PADAC’s executive director.

“We want these cyclists to be the idols of the youths. They prove to the people, the youths and to themselves that by not taking the prohibited drugs, they have a healthy body and mind,” Lambino said. – JAG

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