Tasmanian Devil bedevils field, rules Stage 3
LEGAZPI CITY – Wesley Sulzberger, a “Tasmanian Devil” riding for Japan-based Kinan Cycling Team, outsprinted the competition for Stage 3 honors while youthful leader Oleg Zemlyakov of Kazakhstan side Vino 4-Ever SKO held firm as the competitors gear for the final push in the seventh Le Tour de Filipinas.
Sulzberger, a 29-year-old pro from Launceston in the Australian island state Tasmania, joined the six-man breakaway group eight kilometers into the 185.79K race from Daet, Camarines Norte, maintained his position at the pace then came charging home against Aussie Guy Kalma of Attaque Team Gusto to nail his first stage win for 2016.
Still with strong legs in the windup, Sulzberger pushed harder on the pedal 300 meters from the finish line in front of City Hall along Rizal Street and checked in at 4:27:55, beating Kalma for the plum by two seconds.
2012 Le Tour de Filipinas titlist Baler Ravina of 7-Eleven Sava Roadbike Philippines came home next at 4:28:15 to secure a podium finish for the Pinoys in the UCI 2.2 race presented by Air21.
“It was a very long breakaway. My legs were good from the start for me to join the breakaway straightaway. It was easier for me in the last 30K. I could see the other riders were very tired and I knew I would get the victory today,” said Sulzberger.
Sulzberger’s efforts moved him up 12 places to 13th overall, 6:45 off the 22-year-old Zemlyakov, who held sway after finishing 22nd with a 4:31:05 clocking in the penultimate stage that passed through roads surrounding majestic Mayon Volcano here.
Zemlyakov, a protégé of Kazakh London Olympics champ Alexander Vinokourov, did just enough to keep the yellow jersey and maintain a 19-second lead against teammate Yevgeniy Gidich (13:43:41) heading to today’s Stage 4, a 160.20K circuit race in an out-and-back course.
“We didn’t attack today, only controlled time,” said Vino coach Sergey Danniker, whose riders Zemlyakov and Gidich went with the peloton the whole time. “We will protect the yellow jersey tomorrow (today).”
Roadbike’s Australian import Jesse Ewart stayed at third overall after crossing with the group of Zemlyakov. Ewart had a 22-second deficit to overhaul in the last day of the event that also has Petron, MVP Sports Foundation and Smart as principal sponsors.
His teammate Marcelo Felipe dropped one spot to seventh in the GC, facing a one-minute, 25-second deficit. He finished in joint 11th yesterday in the company of Gidich.
One more Pinoy, Rustom Lim of the Phl team, ranked in the Top 10. He was ninth in 13:45:26, 2:04 off the pace.
Ravina moved up one notch to 14th after his podium finish, 7:14 behind.
The 35-year-old Ravina stuck with Sulzberger and Kalma in the five-man lead group entering Legazpi City proper but got left behind 1K to the finish. More of a climber, Ravina engaged Terengganu’s Daniel Whitehouse in a sprint battle for bronze and won out.
“I dropped some 20 meters when we hit the curve and I couldn’t give (Sulzberger and Kalma) chase anymore feeling drained,” said Ravina.
Roadbike chopped three minutes off the eight-minute overnight lead of Vino in the Team GC competition after yesterday’s race. Vino had 41:13:59 against the Phl continental team’s 41:19:15.
“I tried to help the team gain ground while the others supported Ewart,” said Ravina.
Notes: Cargohaus, NMM, UFL, Philippine Airlines, Collab Printing Solutions, Autonation, Orangefix and Phenom are major sponsors of the Le Tour.