TOUR veteran Ericson Obosa lived up to his billing as the best sprinter in the province by out-pedaling the lead pack of six cyclists in the last 250 meters with much time to spare to top the “Cong. Bataoil Cycling Challenge, Siklista Laban Sa Droga” held November 28.

The race started and ended in Bugallon, which was celebrating its town fiesta that day.

Obosa of Manaoag, 29, a former national team member, broke away in the last 50 kilometers and eventually outsprinted his five breakaway partners to win the top prize of P8,500 by three-bike lengths over second placer Alfredo Asuncion of Guimba, Nueva, Ecija and third-placer Renato Sembrano of Mangaldan.

The open race was dominated by the professionals and rounding up the top ten were: Merculio Ramos Jr. of Binalonan, Reynaldo Navarro of San Jacinto, Nicanor Guanzon of Guimba, N. E., Mark Julius Bonzo of Sual, Dominador Marana of Guimba, N.E., Tomas Martinez of Tarlac City and Sherwin Carrera of San Fabian.

Obosa, Asuncion, Sembrano, Ramos, Navarro and Guanzon who composed the first group negotiated the 158-kilometer flat trek in three hours, 54 minutes and 18 seconds.

The star-studded bikefest with 63 participants, 42 of whom survived, passed all the second district municipalities twice and were flagged off by 2nd District Rep. Leopoldo Bataoil and Bugallon Mayor Rodrigo Orduña.

“I believe that the best vehicle to get rid of the drug menace is through sports competitions,” said Bataoil, “and so I’ll keep on organizing sports activities to develop the youth in my district and I’m confident that we could produce another national champion again someday from this place.”

Meanwhile, Orduña, the only cyclist among all the province’s town and city mayors, said another bikefest will be held on January 12 when Bugallon celebrates its foundation day.–JAGJr.

Back to Homepage