Sports
RP 3rd place in Speedy Tour d'Indonesia
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Nov 28, 2008 - 1:46:20 PM

MANILA, Nov. 28 (PNA) -- Irish Valenzuela showcased his versatile skills to keep Jazy Sports Beacon Philippines in the thick of the fight of the Speedy Tour d' Indonesia following the lung-busting 221-kilometer fourth leg from Purwokerto to Semarang Central Java last Wednesday.

In the longest stage of the bikathon that saw many riders crash out because of the slippery road conditions triggered by heavy rains, Valenzuela copped the second intermediate sprint and King of the Mountain (KoM) honors in the leg captured by Japanese national rider Mazakazo Ito.

Ito soloed home in five hours, 30 minutes and 34 seconds, four seconds ahead of the main pack that also included Valenzuela and teammates, Arnulfo Quirimit, Merculio Ramos, Ericsson Obosa and Sherwin Carrera, all of them checking in at 5:30.38.

But Iranian Jahanbanian, carrying the colors of Tabriz Petrochemical, retained the yellow jersey and was nursing a 22-second lead over Ito and compatriot Amir Zargari.

The Iranians also managed to keep top spot in the team competitions with an aggregate time of 46:24.37, followed by CCC of Indonesia (46:28.31), while the Filipinos remained in third place (46.31.35).

Ramos, the only Filipino rider to wear the coveted yellow jersey in the famed Tour of Langkawi of Malaysia, was the best local bet at 11th spot and Valenzuela, thanks to a 6-second bonus for his KoM plum, moved up to No. 13 overall, as Quirimit slid to 19th place.

While the Filipinos escaped virtually unscathed, the other squads suffered heavy casualties because of the grinding and trying course, including the Japanese, who were reduced to three riders, and the original field of 85 cut down to 72.