By Jean Malanum
MANILA – National team member Ronald Oranza led the Criterium races winners Monday at the start of the PhilCycling National Championships for Road 2026 in Tagaytay City.
According to the PhilCycling news release Tuesday, Oranza dominated the men’s elite division followed by Edson Corbadora and Ronnilan Quita in the race over a 2.2-km circuit that started and finished at Tagaytay City’s Praying Hands Monument.
Meanwhile, Filipino-American Mary Joyce Monton, racing out of Los Angeles, topped the women’s elite division in the event organized by the PhilCycling, headed by Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino.
National team mainstays Maritoni Krog and Phoebe Salazar placed second and third, respectively.
In the U23 category, Jude Gabriel Francisco won over Marvin Mandac and Mark Alex Baruelo in the men’s division while Rayven Joy Valdez, Althea Campana and Angeline Elvira were the top three performers in the women’s division in the tournament presented by Standard Insurance, MVP Sports Foundation and the Philippine Sports Commission and supported by Tagaytay City Mayor Brent Tolentino and the Tagaytay CT Velodrome.
In the Junior category, CJ Cabreros won over Kylle Flores and Piolo Calimlim in the men’s division, while Maria Louisse Criselle Alejado ruled the women’s division over Althea Nicole Coronado and Eloiza Pajarito.
The winners in the Youth categories were Mark Terrence Orcino, Ren Axcel Pecson and Johnzoe Canasa (men’s 12-13); Allaeza Mae Gulmatico, Alessandra Nicole Paras and Princess Jaydee Pancho (women’s 14-15); and Jannshen Sta. Juana, Jyohan Toledo and Louie Jerome Murillo (men’s 14-15).
The competition, which also features the Individual Time Trial and Individual Road Race events, will run until Friday. (PNA)
