Quirimit tops 5th stage but Reynante maintains Tour of Luzon lead

MANILA, Philippines – Arnel Quirimit proved that he still has the tenacity that made him the champion in 2003 when he ruled Thursday’s fifth stage of the Liquigaz-LPGMA Tour of Luzon. The 32-year old Quirimit who hails from Pozzorubio, Pangasinan clocked two hours and 50 minutes to win the 133-kilometer Marikina City-Cabanatuan City stage. “Nakundisyon ako ngayong araw na ito, nagkataon na napasama ako sa harapan kaya tinuluy-tuloy ko na para makabawas din ng kaunti sa overall," said Quirimit who was with the six-man group that broke away from the earlier lead group, 32 kilometers left before the finish line in the town of Sta. Rosa. His former teammate in the national team, Lloyd Lucien Reynante, team skipper of American Vinyl was threatened a bit earlier in the stage but managed to hang on to the overall leadership with the help of his teammates. “Nung kumawala sina Warren (Davadilla) at Arnel, okey lang kasi tiningnan ko naman yung standings bago magsimula at medyo malayo sila," said Reynante.“Balak ko lang talaga mag-float pero napilitan akong magtrabaho nung kumawala si (Merculio) Ramos," he added referring to Ramos’ attempt to breakaway earlier in the town of Pulilan, Bulacan. “Nagpapasalamat ako ng malaki sa mga teammates ko kasi sila talaga yung tumulong sa akin nang maiwan ako ni Ramos sa Pulilan. At nung makadikit ako ulit nag-concentrate na ako sa likod n’ya (Ramos) kasi kung klukuha sya ng lap, mabibigyan s’ya ng bonus, maagaw n’ya ulit yung yellow jersey, e kung nakadikit ako, mauna man s’ya at mag-second ako, bibigyan s’ya ng five seconds na bonus, may matitira pang isang segundo akong lamang ." “Ganyan naman kasi dapat ang siklista, hindi puro lakas dapat, kailangan ding marunong kang mag-calculate ng oras," added the former Trade Team campaigner who was the son of former Tour ng Pilipinas champion Maui Reynante. Reynante checked in seventh but was given an identical clocking with Quirimit and five other cyclists that includes Geo State/The Beacon Team captain Oscar Rendole, Sherwin Diamsay of 7-11/Road Bike team, Edgar Boloser of Happy Nuts, Joseph Millanes of 7-11/Road Bike, and his closest rival My Photos skipper Merculio Ramos . After the fifth stage, Reynante kept his six-second margin from Ramos upon compiling a total of 14 hours, 47 minutes and 33 seconds. Millanes climbed to no.3 with a time of 14:48:13 with teammate Mark Guevarra also climbing one step from fifth to fourth spot with a time of 14:51:12. Rendole made the biggest leap for the day as he made it to the fifth spot from 10th before the start of stage five with a time of 14:51:41. “Nalaspag kasi ako dun sa unang dalawang laps. Medyo nakundisyon din ako ngayon kaya pinilit kong makabawi para naman sa mga kababayan ko," said the 23-year old rider who hails from the nearby town of Guimba, Nueva Ecija. Dante Cagas, skipper of 7-11/Road Bike slipped down to sixth from third with a time of 14:52:08, followed by Hilson Mangahis of Batang Tagaytay (14:52:12,), Tomas Martinez of 7-11/Road Bike (14:52:48), Sherwin Diamsay also from 7-1 (14:532:00) and stage winner Quirimit whoi climbed from 12th to 10th (14:53:50). Meanwhile, in the team competition 7-11/Road Bike, Team Batang Tagaytay and Liquigaz maintained their position in the top three. – GMANews.TV