Post by PasawayL on May 19, 2006 20:26:51 GMT 8
Santy Barnachea get a kiss of a proud Father
What defines a Tour champion?
Is it the field? The length and state of the terrain?
Whatever it is, Santy Barnachea simply does not care.
Applying the finishing touches to a Tour he unarguably dominated, Barnachea was crowned champion of the 2006 Tour Pilipinas Padyak Pinoy cycling marathon, one of the shortest in years and undeniably shallow in depth.
“Naging mas madali para sa aming mga member ng national team kasi wala yung ibang malalakas,” admitted Barnachea. “Wala yung mga nagpapahirap sa amin.”
On a day when this city practically stood still because of the monstrous traffic jam, Barnachea practically took a joyride throughout the 50-lap, 75-km criterium serving as the eighth stage, his dream to hit it big in the country’s premier summer spectacle finally achieved.
The pride of Umingan, Pangasinan totaled 31 hours, 10 minutes and three seconds for the route not as demanding as in past editions but, just the same, very fulfilling for the 30-year-old mainstay.
He became only the fourth rider in Tour history to triumph without winning a lap. Gonzalo Recodos achieved the feat first in 1963 before Paquito Rivas did it in 1978. Renato Dolosa was the last to accomplish it (1992).
“Itong taon na dumating ay para sa akin,” said Barnachea. “dehins naman siguro taon-taon sa kanila. Kaya sinunggaban ko na, sayang ang pagkakataon.”
He crossed the finish line at the middle of the main peloton that finished 1:57 behind lap winner Joel Calderon of Red Bull, as the tour that was nearly cancelled because of financial problems officially ended.
Barnachea won over Frederick Feliciano, the Air21 captain, by 3:58 and 6:54 over Inca skipper Ericson Obosa. It was the slimmest winning margin since the Revival Tour in 2003
Nothing, however, will beat this, even though the fact remains that this year’s edition was without Lloyd Reynante, Albert Primero, Victor Espiritu or Rhyan Tanguilig – riders who decided to side with rival UCAP.
He felt the time has arrived to shine when he seized the overall lead in the third lap, the San Fernando, La Union-Baguio City stage where he ended up runner-up to lap winner Feliciano.
He never relinquished the yellow jersey, although he admitted to have been shaken when Feliciano trimmed his overall lead to within 4:07 in the lap from here to Lucena City.
“Yun ang crucial,” he said. “dehins ko na inulit muli, pinakawalan ko si Feliciano. Mabuti na lang at nag-survive ako.”
Source: PEOPLES TONIGHT
Sports page MAY 20, 2006 issue
Photo: VER NOVENO / PJI File