Roxas City—Indonesian rider Jamalidin Novardianto led a seven-man group that vaulted free from a sprint race and took the Stage 4 honors in the Ronda Pilipinas 2019 here.
The 24-year-old Jamilidin made to it to the finish line near the Robinsons Place Mall at the El Pueblo de Panay road in three hours, 57 minutes and 53 seconds.
A silver medalist in last year’s national finals in Indonesia, the main sprinter of Team PGN-Indonesia arrived at the same time with Terangganu rider Mohd Sharif, Mat Amin Korean bet Kangeun Joo.
Filipino riders composed of Navyman Rudy Roque, Team Franzia’s Ryan Tugawin and 7-Eleven bet Arjay stuck with Novardianto till the end for a fourth to sixth place finish.
PGN’s Odie Purnama Setiyawan, who was with the 7-man group when they pulled away in the 38.1 kilometers, was 11 seconds behind in seventh place.
“There were plans for a breakaway. But I stayed behind in the second group,” said Novardianto, who made his move to take the lead after a sprint race at the 108-km mark of the 146.9 km route.
Novardianto first overtook Joo after the Korean took the sprint honors, towing the seven lead pack from there.
“Tinutuluy tuloy ko na rin. Kailangan manalo,” said Roque after he moved ahead of Peralta, who was third in the sprints that was along flat roads through the farmlands of Barangay Balacuan in Dao, Capiz.
Roque emerged at eighth in the list of overall best Filipino riders, which has Navyman Ronald Oranza on top.
Spanish rider Francisco Mancebo-Perez, who is all set to claim the overall general classification honors, was with a 35-man main peloton that chased Novardianto’s group and was 42 seconds behind.
Mancebo-Perez said he aims to hold his ground in the final stage, which is a 148.9 kilometer race from Roxas City to Pandan, Antique.
“The last stage will be like today. Everybody wants the red jersey including Navy and 7-Eleven. They’re fighting all day. We are a little bit tired. There’s one more stage. We’ll try to keep the jersey. I feel good but you never know. We have to be careful,” said Mancebo-Perez.
The 42-year-old Tour de France veteran is solidly ahead of Oranza by 3 minutes and 52 seconds, followed by 7-Eleven’s Dominic Perez, behind by 3:55 in third place.
Mancebo-Perez’s efforts put Team Matrix Powertag of Japan in top contention for the overall team honors.
They are in front of Team 7-Eleven by 2:05, with Philippine Navy Standard Insurance at third trailing by 2:49.”‹
