Joven, 27, nearly lost the red jersey he seized after topping the Muntinlupa-Silang Stage Two Saturday but rallied in the last 20 kms to join the main group that included teammate and team captain Mark Galedo, the second edition champion and gold medal winner in last December’s Southeast Asian Games in Myanmar.

Reimon Lapaza of Cycleline-Butuan Mindanao kept Joven in sight all-race long and remained at No. 2 with 13:20.58 clocking.

The 36-year-old Pouly also stayed at No. 3 after he reeled back after the pair of tough ascents in Caliraya and Luisiana, Quezon where he and the lead pack slowed down approaching the finish line in Lucena town proper.

The Frenchman, however, cut some minutes off Joven’s lead, trailing the leader by just 41 seconds from 1.35 minutes at the start of the race in San Pablo, Laguna.

Rounding up the top 10 are Cebu-Kalit Air Force’s Oscar Rindole (13:24.16) at No. 4, Roadbike’s Marcelo Felipe (13:24.40) at No. 6, Cycleline-Butuan Mindanao’s Vicmar Vicente (13:24.48) at No. 7, Galedo (13:24.49) at No. 8, Matrix Powertag’s Daiki Yasuhara (13:25.28) at No. 9 and PLDT-Maynilad’s Ronald Oranza (13:25.34) at No. 10.
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