LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Cyclist Rustom Lim of Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija emerged as the champion in the 1st I Love Pangasinan Cycling Classic sponsored by the provincial government on May 28.
Topping the race which has an approximate distance of about 192 kilometers that traversed from the starting point at the Maramba Boulevard in Lingayen to the coastal towns of Labrador, Sual, Alaminos City, Bani, Agno, Burgos, Dasol, Infanta and vice versa, Lim was followed by Nelson Martin also of Nueva Ecija and Jay Lampawog of Villasis town for the 1st runner-up and 2nd runner-up slots, respectively.
Lampawog, on the other hand, was first to reach all three summits (highest point of a hill or mountain) in the race. These are in Suasalito (Sual), Bani and Mabini.
As earlier explained by Race Director General Jess Garcia, the sporting event has adopted the standard rules and regulations by the Union Cyclist International, the international governing organization for cycling events.
More than 50 cyclists from Pangasinan and other nearby provinces joined the cycling tournament which aimed to reintroduce the sporting event to the younger generation.
The 4th to 10th placers are as follows: Marcelo Felipe Nueva Ecija), Arjay Peralta (Nueva Ecija), Dominique Perez (Sto. Tomas, Pangasinan), Ronald Oranza (Villasis, Pangasinan), Mark Julius Bonzo (Sual, Pangasinan), Edgar Nieto (Olongapo City), and Bonjoe Martin (Villasis, Pangasinan).
The top three finishers went home with the following prizes: Champion- P20,000 plus trophy; 1st runner-up- P15,000 plus trophy; 2nd runner-up- P10,000 plus trophy.
Aside from medals, cash prizes for the 4th to 10th placers are as follows: 4th placer- P7,500; 5th placer- P5,000; 6th placer- P4,000; 7th placer- P3,000; 8th placer- P2,000; 9thplacer- P1,500; 10th placer- P1,000.
The 11th to 20th placers received P500 each while all the other racers were given P300 each.
As a backgrounder, Pangasinan has a long list of renowned cyclists since Rufino Gabot, a native of Bugallon town, gave the province its first cycling title in 1957.
Following Gabot’s footsteps were Pangasinan cycling sensations—Mamerto Eden (1959), Edmundo de Guzman (1961), Gonzalo Recodos (1963), Jesus Garcia (1973), Teodorico Rimarim (1974), Samson Etrata (1975), Modesto Bonzo (1976), Jacinto Sicam (1981-1982), Romeo Bonzo (1983), Ruben Carino (1984), Pepito Calip (1985) and Bernardo Lientada (1990).
Along with Garcia, another notable cyclist in the 70s was Cesar Catambay, a native of Mangaldan. Based on records, more than 20 cyclists from Pangasinan won the Ronda Pilipinas tour while others made notable impressions in three cycling races—Padyak Pinoy, Tour of Calabarzon and Le Tour Filipinas.
Some of the prominent Pangasinan cycllists of this generation include: Ronald Oranza, Santy Barnachea, El Joshua Carino, Irish Valenzuela, Cris Joven, Ronald Gorantes, Mark John Lexer Galedo, Joel Calderon, Tomas Martinez and George Oconer.
Joining Garcia in the awarding rites of the 1st I Love Pangasinan Cycling Classic at the Pangasinan Training and Development Center (PTDC) were Pangasinan Sports Development and Management Council Executive Director Modesto Operania and Marife Acerit of the Provincial Tourism and Cultural Affairs Office (PTCAO).
By Dexter A. See