YOUNG Jay Lampawog seeks to finish strong in the final four stages of the Ronda Pilipinas as Go for Gold Developmental tries to take a podium spot.
The 20-year-old Lampawog is running third in the overall individual race is a clear favorite to win the MVP Sports Foundation Best Young Rider trophy, while Go for Gold Developmental is second in the team standings behind only the Navy-Standard Insurance team.
“I feel I’m in a dream, I couldn’t believe that I’m up there with the best of Philippine cycling,” said Lampawog, a native of Villasis, Pangasinan.
“My goal now is to finish strong and get myself confidence going home.”
Lampawog has an aggregate clocking of 21 hours and 19.31 minutes for third overall behind only leader Ronald Oranza of Navy-Standard Insurance at 21:01:56 and another Navy bet and back-to-back champion Jan Paul Morales at 21:08:51.
Lampawog has outperformed former Ronda kings Santy Barnachea of Team Franzia and Irish Valenzuela of CCN Superteam as well as other contenders like national team mainstay George Oconer of Go for Gold’s main team, Army-Bicycology’s Cris Joven and last year’s runner-up Rudy Roque of Navy.
Go for Gold Developmental team has an aggregate clocking of 82:52:24, behind Navy-Standard at 82:19:52 and ahead of No. 3 Army-Bicycology with 83:10:47.
The race resumes with the 207.2 km Silang-Batangas-Tagaytay Stage Nine on Thursday, followed by the 147.8 km Tagaytay-Calaca Stage 10 on Friday, the 92.72 km Calaca-Calaca Stage 11 on Saturday, with the finale, a 50 km criterium, set on Sunday at Filinvest Alabang.
“Everyone in cycling wants to be a champion, that’s my dream too,” said Lampawog.
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