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MANGATAREM, Pangasinan – From a promising French star during his teenage years, Antoine Huby almost lost his mind waiting for a team to call him for several months.
And then 7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines, the continental team, made a call that cleared all doubts and helped him get back on his feet.
That’s why the 25-year-old Uzel, who hails from France is making sure that he repays the trust his team showed him by securing his second round victory three days ago in the 12th Division held in Agoo, La Union and culminated at Daang Kalikasan in Mangatarem, Pangasinan on Monday.
The 2018 French national champion and 2020 Under-23 champion also turned on his climbing skills to climb the 141.4 kilometers (km) in three hours, 17 minutes and 37 seconds, or one minute and 20 seconds before taking on the yellow jersey Nikita Shulchenko of LCW UAE.
D’Reyna Orion Cement’s Erickson Delos Santos came in third with 1:41 minutes from the lap, a flat stage that featured a 7.4-km climb, the Stage 2 climb at the end.
When Mr. Huby came to the line, he was like a diamond in the sky and celebrated by raising his left hand showing two fingers.
“Now I have two sections in my pocket,” he said.
It was another amazing performance by Mr. Huby came two days after his Stage 10 feat where he conquered the brutal Bessang Pass – the second hardest climb in this 14 stage race next to that last lap in Baguio.
It was his way of thanking the team managed by Bong Sual and Ric Rodriguez coached by 7-Eleven for giving him a second chance.
“It is very important to me because it has been a long time since I participated and I was really confused,” said Mr. Huby, who last appeared in the world team Soudal Quick-Step. “I want to thank my team for bringing me here, my family and everyone who showed their trust in me.”
“Now I want to show everyone my place in mainstream cycling,” he added.
In his latest performance, Mr. Huby jumped from third place in each race to second, just 2:30 minutes behind Mr. Shulchenko from 3:54 on Sunday.
The Russian was able to protect the lead after moving into second place on the lap.
He currently has a combined time of 36:16:21.
He came from No. 2 to 3 Mr.’s team mate. Shulchenko Ibrahiem Alrefai, who was now 4:29 minutes slower than before and 1:59 minutes from Mr. Hubby.
With nothing much changing in the top 10, the duel of Messrs. Shulchenko-Huby is fast approaching the final two stages – the 20.3-km Lingayen-Lingayen Stage 13 Individual Time Trial and the grueling 177.07-km Lingayen-Baguio Stage 14.
Mr. Huby, however, knew that he would lose time in Stage 13 as he is not that strong in running.
“It’s difficult tomorrow (Tuesday), I think we will lose time, but I will do my best and try to win the last stage,” he said.
It was 7-Eleven’s day in the competition and he regained almost two minutes off the time he lost on Sunday in the team race to stay on top in 144:25:51, exactly five minutes ahead of Go for Gold. – Joey Villar
