KULIM, Malaysia—All six 7-Eleven Cliqq Roadbike Philippines riders held fort against a strong field of 22 teams in an uneventful Stage One of the 23rd Le Tour de Langkawi that turned out as a “getting to know you” of sorts in the region’s most prestigious race last Sunday.
But if not for a six-rider crash in a sharp bend 600 meters to the finish, the team’s certified sprinter, Dominic Perez, a 21-year-old from Santo Tomas town in Pangasinan, could have figured in the top 5 of the race for the Best Asian trophy of the Hors Category event of the International Cycling Union (UCI) now running its 23rd year.
“I was in a position to join the sprint finish, but I was separated from the front of the race after the crash,” Perez told the BusinessMirror as he and his teammates were attended to by Race Director Ric Rodriguez, coprincipal Engr. Bong Sual and team support Roberto “Boy” Querimit for recovery from the 147.90-kilometer stage that started from Kangar and raced over the Malaysian countryside in 34-degree Centigrade heat.
“We had our sprinters in position for most part of the stage and they were ready to counter the ‘bullying’ tactics of the tough riders from the world-class teams,” Rodriguez said. “Unfortunately, our boys were denied the sprint because of the spill.”
Bonijoe Martin, the third of three Pangasinense on the team—the other being Daniel ven Carino—was one of those who crashed and sustained scratches in the left elbow and knee.
But Martin will ride Monday’s Stage Two, the race’s first difficult stage that covers 208.30 kms from Gerik to Kota Bharu and marked by a Category 1 1,050-meter climb in the first 67 kms.
Italian Andrea Guardiani, who has never won Langkawi but owns the most number of stage wins, topped the sprint finish for victory No. 23. The Bardiani CSF rider clocked two hours, 29 minutes and four-tenths of a second, nosing out Korean Seo Joon-yong (KSPO Bianchi Asia Procycilng) and Eritrea’s Mekseb Debesay (Team Dimension Data).
All but one rider from Kinan Racing Team—Hiroshi Tsubaki (exhaustion)—finished the race and credited with the same time as Guardiani. Those who crashed also got the same clocking under the UCI final 3-km rule.
Perez was No. 8 in the Best Asian Rider category topped by Seo, while 7-Eleven Cliqq Roadbike Philippines was No. 5 also in the continental division and a tad out of the Team General classification at No. 11.
The more seasoned riders from the World Tour—Astaa and Dimension Data—and Pro Continental Teams showed aggression throughout and “bullied” the Filipino riders no end.
“Each we tried to make a move, these riders chasing the GC [general classification] blocked our path,” said Arjay Peralta, who at five-foot-two is called the team’s “Buhawi” for his fearless attacks.“I got elbowed several times, but it’s okay.”
“It’s surprising that when the boys attack, the GC chasers block them. Perhaps they fear the Filipinos,” said Rodriguez, who, like the rest of the race directors, had access to their riders through individual radios.
The Le Tour de Langkawi went back to its roots in island resort of Langkawi, where the entire entourage of more than 600 were warmly welcomed last Saturday.