Oledan rules cycling road race in Zambales sportsfest

IBA, Zambales – Tots Oledan ruled the Zambales Multisports Festival 2011 cycling race on Friday following a successful chase in the ascent towards the town of Masinloc. The 22-year-old Oledan negotiated the 120-kilometer race, which started and ended at the Zambales provincial capitol, in two hours and 57 minutes to win the P5,000 top prize Oledan led a group that overtook early leader Baler Ravina in the climb at Masinloc in the final 25 kilometers before crossing first in the finish line, beating 2009 Tour of Luzon champion John Mark Guevarra and Oscar Rendole. "Nagpursige na kaming makalayo sa last 25 kilometers para at least maka-top three kami," said Oledan, who bested more than 80 riders who competed in the event. Guevarra and Rendole took home P4,000 and P3,000, respectively, for placing second and third in the sports festival organized by Gov. Hermogenes "Jun" Ebdane Jr. Ravina was riding alone on the road to Sta. Cruz, the province's northernmost town, before Olendan's group caught up with him in the mountainous part of the race in their return to Iba. Ravina settled for fourth place while Nicardo Guanzon finished at fifth, followed by Sherwin Diamsay, Ericson Obosa, Eusebio Quinones, Francis Ramos and Joel Calderon. They were all given identical times of 2:58:00. Ravina and Guanzon won P2,000 and P1,000, respectively, prize while the sixth to 10th place finishers came home with P500 each. The Cargara, Leyte native Oledan's victory eclipsed his 14th-place finish in the recent Asian Cycling Championships in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. He will compete in the Tour of Thailand set in the first week of April. Rustom Lim, the road race bronze medallist in last month’s Asian Junior Championships in Nakhon Ratchasima in Thailand, was unrelenting in his first major local race and tried to ride alongside the grizzled veterans. He finished 17th. "Mabilis at mabigat ang laban," he later said. The multisports festival will continue Saturday with the Black Sands Ultimate Frisbee, Dawal 2-km Openwater Swim and the Potipot Duathlon Challenge (30-km bike, 3-km run) before capping the event with the Black Sands Triathlon (1.5-km swim, 50-km bike and 12-km run)on Sunday. – Reuben Terrado, JVP, KY, GMA News