All over but the shouting

Sebastian Santiago

Baguio City—Ageless veteran Santy Barnachea mustered the old form that snared him the inaugural Ronda Pilipinas title with another 15th place finish in Stage 7 over the weekend to virtually secure his second Ronda championship with still a stage to go.

The 38-year-old Barnachea clocked 29 minutes and 53 seconds in the 8.8-kilometer penultimate stage topped by Navy-Standard Insurance teammate Jan Paul Morales (28.32), fending off his closest foes’ attempts to snatch the red LBC leader’s jersey away from the former and reducing the 74-5-km final stage criterium at press time to his coronation lap.

“It’s over,” said Barnachea in Filipino.

The Umingan, Pangasinan native will thus clinch his fourth Tour title after reigning supreme in Ronda’s inaugural edition in 2011 and 2002 Tour of Calabarzon and 2006 Padyak Pinoy.

Barring any major setbacks, Barnachea,

will be the first rider to ever win the Ronda crown twice. Like this year, Barnachea also won the 2011 inaugurals without taking a single stage.

He will also go home with his second P1 million purse.

Barnachea, however, said all the Navy winnings in this race considered as the biggest and richest in Asia will be pooled and divided equally with his teammates.

Money, anyway, is only secondary for Barnachea.

“Money can’t buy the honor we received during the times I won titles since i turned pro in 1997,” he said.

It may also end up as Barnachea’s final ride.

“I already told my parents that I will retire after this race. And it will depend on my bosses at Navy,” he said.