DAET, Camarines Norte—For Spaniard Fernando Grijalba, it all boils down to preparations.
He flew down more than a week prior to the Le Tour de Filipinas and, with best friend in tow, checked the course that would test the mettle of his race cycling acumen.
It paid off.
Three days into the race presented by Air21, Grijalba put his knowledge of the unpredictable route to great use and claimed on Monday the third stage of the 4-day cycling tournament to pedal closer from seizing the overall leader’s yellow jersey.
The 26-year-old sprinter from Kuwait Cartucho.Es burst out of a speeding pack in a frenetic bunch sprint finish. He flexed both biceps after crossing the line for his first career stage victory.
“I just kept my pace and attacked in the final kilometers because I know it’s hilly,” said Grijalba, who comes from Laguna de Duero, a town the province of Valladolid, Castile and León, Spain surrounded by pine woods and rich in wellsprings.
Grijalba stayed with fellow Spaniard Edgar Nieto of 7Eleven-Road Bike Philippines in Dagupan City for 10 days before the race. With Nieto, he rode the 177.35-kilometer high-velocity chase on Monday from Naga City, already with an assault plan.
Overall leader Daniel Whitehouse of Terrenganu Cycling Team arrived 1:27 behind a large group of riders, among whom is Filipino climb specialist Mark Galedo of 7Eleven-RBP.
“There were attacks on the road but we were able to protect the yellow jersey,” Whitehouse said. “I’ll do whatever it takes to defend it tomorrow.”
Grijalba beat Benjamin Hill of Attaque Team Gusto and Ryu Suzuki of Bridgestone Anchor Cycling at the line with an identical clocking of four hours, 14 minutes and three seconds together with 13 other riders.
After starting the day at fourth overall, Grijalba jumped to second in the general classification and reduced the 2-minute lead of yellow-jersey holder Daniel Whitehouse of Terrenganu Cycling Team to 23 seconds.
Hill dropped to third but the Australian also managed to slash precious minutes off Whitehouse as he inched 24 seconds off the pace.
Overall, Suzuki slipped to fourth but gained 27 seconds behind Whitehouse, followed by Salvador Guardiola of Team Ukyo, 2015 champion Thomas Lebas of Kinan Cycling and Edgar Nieto of 7Eleven-RBP, each of them 37 seconds back.
Nestled safely in the peloton for most part of the race, Grijaldo suddenly charged ahead with Hill and Suzuki to join the nine-man lead pack at a road whose literal translation is “chicken innards.” This is the well-known “Bitukang Manok,” a long stretch of flexuous road in Sipocot town, some 30 kilometers to the finish.
Whitehouse, under escort by his Terrenganu teammates, tried to chase the pack. But Grijaldo and the other contenders maintained their speed before sprinting home with just a few kilometers left.
“I tried to attack and get the yellow jersey for the win,” Grijalba said. “Let’s see what happens tomorrow.”
The race backed by Petron, UPS, Philippine Airlines, Advanced Solutions Inc., Cargohaus Inc., CCN Sports Philippines, IWMI, NMM Customs Broker, Phenom Sportswear, UFL Philippines and WARM remains wide open for the top 10 contenders. Tuesday’s final stage of 208 kilometers going to Lucena City will be the last chance for Grijaldo and Hill to snatch the general classification from Whitehouse.
Image credits: Nonoy Lacza