RI's Djatmiko scratches in Philippines tour event
RI's Djatmiko scratches in Philippines tour event
CALAMBA, Philippines (Agencies): Indonesia's Djatmiko and
Kenichi Yusuda of Japan withdrew from the fourth stage of the
Marlboro Centennial Tour of the Philippines yesterday.
Djatmiko abandoned the race to leave the team with only a
single rider Kaswanto, who finished a low 55th yesterday.
Indonesian ace rider Tonton Susanto was the first to make an
early when he withdrew in Friday's second stage. Three more
Indonesians crashed out in Sunday's third stage, with Suyitno and
Mohammad Ali Kaprawi resigning after a massive collision on
Manila coastal road and Andi Sistiawan going out through a
stomach cramp.
In contrast, Warren Davadilla of the Philippines underscored
his worth as general classification leader and yellow jersey
holder yesterday by ruling the difficult fourth stage.
Davadilla, who wrested the yellow jersey from teammate Arnel
Quirimit after the second stage, humbled his three breakaway
partners in the sprint for home to nail down his first stage
victory in a three-year career.
It was a masterful performance for the 23-year-old from
Malabon, Metro Manila, who relegated Quirimit to second this time
at the end of the 226.2km drive that featured a long uphill climb
to a mountain park in Quezon province, 116km into the race. The
lead pack timed five hours 51 minutes and 30 seconds.
But Quirimit consoled himself by second overall from Gonzalo
Espiritu of Pangasinan, 4:57 behind Davadilla.
Rookie Santy Barnachea of Pangasingan continued to show
tremendous promise by hanging on to finish third over the hard-
luck Malaysian Hoong Tsen Seong, who prevented an all-Filipino
show for the day.
The veteran Hoong could have challenged for stage honors but
he took a spill in the last two kilometers. Undaunted, he got up
quickly, gave chase and caught up with the three scampering
Filipinos a kilometer from the finish.
The show of courage amply rewarded the Malaysian as he moved
up to third place overall in a tie with Barnachea, 5:26 off
Davadilla.
The Malaysians, however, fell to third in the team general
classification behind Pangasinan as Gonzalo Espiritu, second in
the general classification when the stage started, managed to
come home with the third group.
The Tour heads for Antipolo, Rizal today via a 137.7km fifth
stage that features five mountain climbs (one Category 1, two
Category 2's and two Category 3's).