KIWI Jason Christie of CNN won for the third time in the Ronda Pilipinas 2014 International as he topped the eighth stage yesterday from Tarlac City to Dagupan City.
Christie already won the first criterium stage in Quezon City and sixth stage from Lucena to Antipolo but there was no slowing down the national sprint champion in New Zealand as he finished the 197-kilometer stage 8 with a time of four hours, 34 minutes and 32 seconds.
The 23-year-old Christie stuck with the peloton for most part of the longest leg of the series before making his move in the final stretch of the race.
PLDT-Maynilad Pro Team’s Rustom Lim placed second with a time of 4:35.04, narrowly escaping Shih Hsin Hsiao of the Gusto Cycling Team via photo finish.
7-Eleven’s Mark John Lexer Galedo remains the top overall rider in the individual rankings with a total time of 29:24.30. He has been holding on to the lead for three stages now.
Cycle Line Butuan’s Lapaza maintained his position at second place with a time of 29:24.44 while Galedo’s teammate Mark Julius Bordeos is at third place (29:26.56).
The race gets tougher with the dreaded ninth stage to Baguio today, which is a grueling 102.1-kilometer run that will have two tough climbs, including a Hors Category climb in the famous Kennon Road.