Sembrano tops first stage of ‘Padyak Pinoy’

MANILA, Philippines — Renato Sembrano didn’t get intimidated by two veteran riders as he outsprinted them along with a promising rookie in the final 600 meters to rule Stage 1 of the Padyak Pinoy 2009 Tour of Champions that was surprisingly held under clear summer skies — without the threat of typhoon Emong — Friday. The 29-year old Sembrano, who hails from Mangaldan, Pangasinan, and competing in his second Tour since 2005, won the 165-kilometer Taguig to Apalit, Pampanga stage in three hours, 24 minutes and 48 seconds. “Nag-cramps pa nga ako sa last 10 kms pero tinodo ko na," said Tanduay assistant team captain Sembrano. “Mahirap ‘yung daan kasi. Pero sa last 600 meters ko na talaga tinodo." Mark Julius Bonzo, who was the top rookie in the Tour of Luzon revival, was within striking distance of the leaders but lost steam and finished in the second group with another veteran, Santy Barnachea, 21 seconds behind. Bonzo was originally being trained by PhilCycling in track cycling. Sembrano and Bonzo, together with skipper Sherwin Carrera (1:01 behind), also gave Tanduay an early lead in the team event with a total time of 10:15:33 for a four-minute advantage over last year’s champion Wow Magic Sing (10:20:16.05) and Mail&More (10:20:48.01). Padyak Pinoy’s first stage nearly got cancelled as typhoon Emong ravaged the island of Luzon. Miraculously, the opening stage started and finished without a single drop of rain all throughout. It was hot and humid the rest of the way as riders negotiated the route passing through six Bulacan towns and four Nueva Ecija municipalities via Gapan, before being warmly welcomed by Mayor Oscar “Jun" Tetangco Jr. in Apalit town where telecommunications mogul Many V. Pangilinan was born. The entourage, saved for the riders, were delayed for about half an hour in Cabiao, Nueva Ecija, because of the ongoing rehabilitation of the highway. Sembrano will be wearing the MVP Yellow Jersey for the first time in his career in Stage 2. He already earned P5,000 as a stage winner and another P5,000 courtesy of Pangilinan, who has pledged the amount to each of Padyak Pinoy’s eight stage winners — on top of the additional P50,000 for a total P100,000 to the individual general classification winner. – GMANews.TV