RP'S DAVADILLA CAPTURES
MARLBORO TOUR
Manila, May 4, 1998
- Philippine team member Warren Davadilla rode home to a hero's welcome
Sunday, while thousands of fans and supporters hailed him as one of cycling's
heroes on the closing leg of the 18-day Marlboro Centennial Tour.
The 23-year-old pedalled into the finish line at Rizal Park with a lead of 6 minutes, 37 seconds over second placer Carlo Guieb, 1993-94 champion.
President Fidel Ramos himself conferred the championship trophy and handed him the P500,000 check representing the champion's purse. Guieb's second place finish earned him P300,000 prize money.
Davadilla completed the 2,576-kilometer race in 64 hours, 58 minutes and 57 seconds, beating a starting field of 84 riders and 14 teams. In the end, there were only 65 riders and 12 teams left.
!996 champion Victor Espiritu finished third.
The Philippine team won the team title wort h P500,000, besting eight regional and three foreign teams, and also received the bonus of P100,000 for being the best-placed Filipino team.
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