STAGE 3 OF '98 MARLBORO CENTENNIAL TOUR
Batangas City, April 21, 1998 - Warren Davadilla kept a skimpy overall lead after the third stage of the race won by Victor Espiritu.
Espiritu and Placido Valdez of Nueva Ecija broke away from the group right after the Aguinaldo Shrine in Kawit, Cavite and both set the pace in the last 130 kilometers before Espiritu increased his pedalling to win the 3rd stage of the 16-stage 1998 Marlboro Centennial race.
A heavy traffic at a toll gate in the coastal road about 15 kilometers from the starting line at Quirino Grandstand caused a huge group of cycles at the tail end of the race to crash to the ground.
2 Indonesians after being caught in another traffic jam entering Bacoor, Cavite later decide to quit the race. The withdrawals left only two Indonesians in the race. A minimum of 3 players are required. A Chinese player, Wang Haili also had to withdraw from the tour due to abdominal cramps.
The fourth stage of the Centennial tour will cut into the heart of Southern Tagalog with 78 riders taking the tour's longest route of 226.2 kilometers from Batangas City through Quezon to Calamba, Laguna which is the birthplace of Dr Jose Rizal.
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