THE province’s dreaded cycling group, the “Pitaki Boyz”, showed their supremacy anew in the province’ road racing by dominating the “Domalandan Open Cycling Classic” last Sunday in Lingayen town with a stunning1-2-3-4 fashion finish that shocked the thousands of spectators and the strong field of 70 participants.

After the first round of  five that traversed the national highways of Lingayen, Bugallon and Labrador via  barangays Domalandan-Baay-Banaga-Socony-Magtaking-Bongalon circuit route, the quartet of national team member Renato Sembrano and Ariel Flores, both from Mangaldan, ex-national standout Reynaldo Navarro and town mate Pepito Calosa of San Jacinto,  broke away from the main pack and never looked back.

They orchestrated a Calosa-Sembrano-Navarro-Flores convincing triumph with much to spare, and pocketed the P5,000, P3,000, P2,000, P1,000 major prizes respectively, plus trophies and medal.

The four clocked the 105.5 kilometers smooth and flat trek in two hours, 32 minutes and 47 seconds.

Baler Ravena of Urdaneta City Cycling Club out-sprinted Pitaki member Binalonan Elmo Ramos, Jr. to take fifth honor good for P900 and a medal. Ramos’ effort gained him P800 for sixth place.

The Pitaki Boyz, owned and managed by Jazy F. Garcia of Guam-based Jazy Sportswear, also clinched the four ‘summit sprints’  winning 11 out of 12 special prizes at stake donated by second district Board Member Von Mark Mendoza and Houston, Texas-based cyclist Blandino Caguioa from San Carlos City.

The race was in conjunction with the celebration of the Lingayen town fiesta and with the opening of the newly-built Domalandan bridge that was inaugurated last January 6.

The road battle, first to be held in the province this year, was sponsored by the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) Pangasinan Chapter office   under the presidency of DPWH Region 1 Director Engineer Fidel Ginez, assisted by Engr. Rodolfo ‘Boy’ Dion, head of the Lingayen-based Department of Public Works and Highways Second Engineering District office.

“While we have increased the awareness about Domalandan bridge’s opening, we staged the event to help our local cyclists gauge their preparedness for the coming Tour Pilipinas qualifying races to be held middle of next month,” cycling buff Ginez said after the awarding ceremony.

He also announced that two more races will be held this year.

Ginez flagged off the participants at 1:20 p.m. from the middle of Domalandan Bridge which also served as the finish line.

The other top ten finishers were Rene Esteban of San Fabian, 7th; Norman Pablo of Tayug, 8th; Sherwin Carrera, 9th; Mark Julius Bonzo, 10th.

The event was covered live by Aksyon Radyo Pangasinan.

 

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