EMG takes final stage in Phillipines, Kelly’s Veilleux is second overall

By Steve Thomas

It’s been a long and hard road to Makati for the riders, and the rest of the event team of the Tour of Luzon. Just after sunrise the wake up call came; it was time to check out and make the long transfer from Subic to the Makati sector of Metro Manila, for the final stage of this year’s first international version of the race.

A weary and confusing week of racing was tempered some by the day’s en-route drive through to pick up the familiar breakfast; Jollibee pancakes (and a sneaky noodle soup for a privileged few) yummy! Today was set to be criterium on a city-center circuit, and with just a few seconds separating the overall final GC between leader Dennis Von Nikalk and KBS’s David Veilleux, the stage was certainly not going to be one big lap of honour for the EMG team.

On the finish line 15-, 10- and 5-second time bonuses awaited the podium finishers, which could possibly give the KBS boys the final GC to take back to the States the following morning.

“Well, if David can win the stage, and Dennis finishes outside of the first three we can do it. They (EMG) think it’s going to be a parade, we have different plans — we certainly didn’t come here to go home without at least giving it our best shot, we want to win,” said KBS director Jacob Eker as we made the long bus transfer to the start line.

Racing got underway mid-afternoon, and was fast but well controlled by both EMG and KBS. Several breaks came and went, but with KBS in the hunt for the stage bonus seconds, and EMG trying to make sure they didn’t get them, it was all nullified.

Into the closing laps of the 60-kilometer race a small group went clear, which forced KBS to spend crucial energy in chasing it down, as Van Nikalk later explained. “There were enough riders in front to make sure there was no risk of losing the race on bonus time, which forced them (KBS) to chase it down.”

Coming into the final lap the bunch was all together, and things were a little tense, but with KBS outgunned two-to-one things looked good for the South African EMG boys. “We tried everything we could, but we just could not get away from them. It was the same the day before, when Dennis attacked we could hold the gap, but not close it — but at least we tried,” Veilleux at the finish.

Into the finishing straight and EMG were in full flight, with 19-year old Reynard Butler being lead out by the team to take the stave victory ahead of Veilleux and Von Nilak, close — but not close enough.

FILED UNDER: News / Race Report TAGS: Tour of Luzon