i TV Pinoy

Source: gmanews.tv

-- Road Bike Philippines-Seven Eleven riders experienced mixed fortunes in the third lap of the Tour de Indonesia 2009 Wednesday.

Lady luck smiled on Sherwin Diamsay and Victor Espiritu, who moved up from their respective spots in the overall individual classification. But misfortune hit teammate Tomas Martinez, who failed to finish the race due to severe leg cramps he suffered after having a flat tire midway through the 193K massed start race from Tasikmalaya.

Despite finishing only 34th in a big field of 63 riders composing the lead group that included lap winner Sedey Kudentsov of Poligon Sweet Nice Team of Russia, Diamsay climbed to 34th spot from his previous placing at 38th.

Former two-time RP Tour champion Espiritu, who checked in 60th in the lap, also made his upward trek in the standings, occupying 35th from 37th.

The two, together with lap winner Kudentsov, second placer Mehdi Sohrabi of Tabriz Petrochemical Team of Iran and third placer winner Fatillah Abdullah of Arayan Indonesia Team were given an identical clocking of three hours, 21 minutes and 24 seconds.

Also included in the group and awarded with identical time were Ronnel Hualda of LPMGA Cycling Club, the best Filipino finisher at 17th, his teammates Tots Tonido (22nd), Merculio Ramos (26th) Irish Valenzuela (39th) and Cruz Joven (41st) and Road Bike’s Lloyd Lucien Reynante (52nd).

After three stages, Sohrabi still held on to the top of the overall individual standings with an aggregate clocking of six hours, three minutes and three seconds, or one minute and 48 seconds ahead of Diamsay and Espiritu.

In the overall team classification, Sohrabi’s team Tabriz was still entrenched in the lead. Tarbiz held a one minute and 34 second advantage against ninth-running Road Bike Philippines and a one minute and 51 second edge against LPGMA Cycling Club, which stood at 14th.