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VIGAN, Ilocos Sur–Navy-Standard Insurance seeks to duplicate its strong performance last year as it plunges into action minus three of its top riders inlcluding Ronald Oranza when the LBC Ronda Pilipinas 2017 edition unfolds on Saturday (February 4) in front of the Provincial Capitol here.
Navy skipper Lloyd Lucien Reynante said Oranza, who topped one of the three legs last year, El Joshua Carino and Mark John Camingao had to forego the 14-stage race because they need to undergo basic training.
"They couldn't join because they are under basic seaman course," said the 38-year-old Reynante, referring to Oranza, Carino and Camingao.
"But I'm still confident of our chances this year because we have a combination of experience and youth," he added.
The Navymen will be spearheaded by Jan Paul Morales, winner of two legs last edition, ageless Joel Calderon, the 2009 Tour King, and the equally battle-tested duo of Rudy Roque and Ronald Lomotos.
In the absence of Oranza, Carino and Camingao, Reynante inserted promising cyclists Jay Lampawog, Daniel Ven Carino and Archie Cardana, all aged under 23 years old.
"I see a lot of promise with my under-23 riders, they can pull off a lot of surprises," said Reynante. Navy and the rest of the Ronda cavalcade, meanwhile, arrived in this city, considered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on Thursday .
"We're excited this year because we have a lot of new faces," said LBC Ronda project director Moe Chulani.
A top purse worth P1 million prize awaits the champion courtesy of presentor LBC, in partnership with the MVP Sports Foundation, Petron, Mitsubishi, Versa.ph, Partas, Maynilad, Standard Insurance, CCN, Bike Xtreme, NLEX, PhilCycling and 3Q Sports Event Management.
The other teams seeing action are, Army Kinetix Lab, Go for Gold, Bike Extreme, Ilocus Sur, Mindanao Sultan Kudarat, Iloilo, NCR RC Cola, Tarlac, Neopolitan, South Luzon and Zambales.
The main race starts on Feb. 4 with two stages in Ilocos Sur and will pass by Angeles (Feb. 8), Subic (Feb. 9), Lucena, Quezon (Feb. 12), Pili, Camarines Norte (Feb. 14 and 16), Daet (Feb. 17), Paseo in Sta. Rosa, Laguna (Feb. 19), Tagaytay and Batangas (Feb. 20), Calamba and Antipolo (Feb. 21) before wrapping up with a pair of stages in Iloilo City (March 2, 3 and 4).
