IT WAS a complete sweep as three Iranians took the 1-2-3 finish at the close of the 2011 Le Tour de Filipinas here in Baguio City.
The Iranians were simply awesome in their uphill battle, as they managed three hours to navigate the 112.5-kilometer fourth leg coming from Lingayen, Pangasinan.
Yellow Jersey Rahim Emami of Azad University came first in the finish line with the time three hours nine minutes and 53 seconds followed by his teammates Farshad Salehiam (3:10:22) and Amir Zargari (3:10:25), second and third, respectively.
Stage One winner Emami, along with his teammate Zargari, claimed Stage 4 was one of their best climbs. “The course was good for us,” says Zargari whose team did not experience any flat tire or delay.
The Iranian trio success was beyond the expectation of many. The four men breakaway team composed of Filipinos Sherwin Carrera (7-Eleven), Mark John Laxer G. Galedo (7-Eleven), Oscar Rendole (Smart), and Joseph Millanes (American Vinyl) thrilled the fans and followers hoped high for their fellow country men.
Their lead during the initial stretch was taken over upon entering the King of the Mountain challenge. The challenge twisted the scenario and gave way for Azad University riders to work to their advantage.
Chairman Bert Lina is happy on the success of Le Tour de Filipinas 2011.
“It is a compact tournament. The Filipinos were able to see how foreign competitors perform and that would be the basis of improving cycling,” he says.
Lina added, “The cycling movement is getting active” after the Le Tour was the only bicycle tour in the country sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale.
Lina said the goal is to come up with a yearlong program to develop cyclists and prepare them for a larger UCI-sanctioned competition.
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