Rush makes mad rush, bags Men U23 title

Rush Camingao crossed solo to win the gold medal in the Men U23 road race of the PhilCycling National Championships for Road where the contest for bronze was marked by foul riding in the sprint to the finish in Tuy, Batangas, on Thursday.

Camingao had plenty to spare — some 90 seconds — in ruling the category for riders aged 18 to 22 and covered the 171-kilometers out-and-back event in four hours, one minute and 34.58 seconds.

Roque claimed the silver medal in the championships organized by the PhilCycling headed by Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino with a 4:03.54 clocking.

Commissaires, meanwhile, ruled on relegating Jude Gabriel Francisco one rung for foul riding in the final sprint to gift Steven Tablizo the bronze medal — they race for continental teams Victoria Sports and Standard Insurance Philippines, respectively.

A starting field of 123 riders raced in hot, humid and windy conditions over rolling and false flat national roads around the start-finish in Barangay Putol in Tuy, Balayan, Lian and Nasugbu on the fourth and penultimate day of the championships.

In the end, 30 riders failed to finish the race that recorded an average speed of 42.50 kilometers per hour with highs of 70 kph.

The Women Elite and U23 combined race was staged on Thursday afternoon while the Men Elite contest will be conducted Friday.