Sprint specialist Jonel Carcueva and junior cycling star Rex Luis Krog delivered a pair of rousing victories for Go For Gold Philippines in the challenging Tour de Linggarjati.
Carcueva ruled the men’s elite category on the way to winning the General Classification title while Krog, 18, frustrated Indonesians Ahmad Yoga Ilham Firdaus and Angga Dwi Wahyu Prahesta in the road race to win his division.
The 24-year-old Cebuano banked on a second-place performance in the road race and made sure his closest rivals won’t be a nuisance in the criterium event after finishing third in the 9.8-kilometer individual time trial to bring home the general classification title.
Krog also finished second behind Firdaus in the ITT of the three-day race held in West Java, Indonesia.
“I’m very proud of our team. Even though we are still a young squad and have plenty of things to improve on, they have proven that Filipino cyclists can win in big races overseas,” said Go For Gold Philippines godfather Jeremy Go.
Providing the much-needed lift for Carcueva, who captured his first international race, were Go For Gold’s Ronnilan Quita (fourth overall), Ismael Grospe (seventh), Ronnel Hualda (13th), Jericho Jay Lucero (16th) and Elmer Navarro (18th).
“This is Jonel’s first GC (win). We have seen the potential in him as early as 2015 and joined the Go For Gold program more than two years ago,’’ said Go For Gold project director Ednalyn Hualda.
While it was a breakthrough win for Carcueva, Krog just validated his status following his win in the four-stage Tour of Matabungkay.
Krog nosed out Firdaus in a dead heat after both clocked one hour and 51 minutes in the 65.30km road race before the Filipino rider crossed the line ahead of his stubborn Indonesian foe in the criterium finale.
