Morales wants one more shot

BAGUIO CITY — After coming just six seconds short of winning the Tour of Luzon, Jan Paul Morales of Standard Insurance-Navy is delaying his retirement from competitive cycling.

“I would have retired had I won the Tour of Luzon,” Morales, 39, told a group of scribes moments after coming in second behind Korean Joo Daeyoung during the conclusion of the revived cyclefest on Thursday at Camp John Hay.

Morales emerged as a surprise runner-up to Joo and was just six seconds from becoming an all-time great in Philippine cycling.

“I am putting my retirement plans on hold,” said Morales, who also finished second behind lap winner Joshua Pascual of Excellent Noodles in Stage 8 of the eight-leg race that flagged off in Lingayen, Pangasinan.

Morales clicked in four hours, 18 minutes and 34 seconds in the last stage, two minutes and 20 seconds slower than Pascual.

Since Morales’ mission in this event didn’t happen according to plan, he expressed his desire to get one more shot at the Tour title next year.

But it would all depend on one major factor, said the Marikina-based pedal pusher.

“We’ll see if my body can still do it because I am already starting to feel a lot of things,” he added.