HAPPY NA B-DAY PA 5LW

 A true leader of Cebu Cycling both on and off the road.  Atty J leads the peloton.  Igimax follows his idol.  Tour ni Frank - Stage 2 Toledo City-TransCentral Highway Balamban-Busak Busay Hills, Cebu City Jan 9, 2011.  A 55km Mountain Road Race

Leaving the competition behind.

Congratulations and Happy Birthday!

Photos by TEAM maX1mo

SURBAN RULES 2-STAGE TOUR NI FRANK

Published in The Freeman Newspaper on Jan. 11, 2011 Tuesday issue
by Caecent Noot-Magsumbol, Staff Writer
Manny Villaruel, Sports Editor

CEBU, Philippines - After dominating the criterium action, bemedalled Cebuano cyclist Niño Surban made it a clean sweep with a resounding victory in the men's class A of the mountain road race that wrapped up the 2011 Tour Ni Frank yesterday starting at the Toledo City Hall grounds and ending in Buak, Busay Hills, Cebu City.

The rain, slippery road and ensuing fog in the mountain ranges of TransCentral Highway made the lung-busting, 55-kilometer route extremely difficult and dangerous to traverse.

Nevertheless, Surban banked on his big fighting heart and vast experience to take home the overall title followed by Rolly Cabaluna and Nilo Barbalose. Adan Abrenica placed fourth, while Elmer Navarro came in fifth.

In class B, Elmo Clarabal took the first place honors as Jonas Ponseca and Ramon Espinosa claimed the next two spots. John Christopher Gaspar and Danny Sena settled for fourth and fifth, respectively.

Adri Van Dongen of Holland stole part of the spotlight after lording in over in class C.

Dongen is one of the only three foreign entries of the two-day event sponsored by longtime cycling patron Frank Gatdula, a Fil-Am from Stockton, California, and organized by Miguel Flores and Cebu Cycling with technical assistance from RECYCLE.

Ronnie Adlawan wound up second, while the succeeding two seats were occupied by Raffy Bacayo and Ryan Ocañada.

Luis Miguel "Igi" Maximo, the youngest participant, caught everyone by surprise as he landed at a decent fifth place.

The 15-year-old student of PAREF-Springdale, riding on his new carbon wheelset provided by YKK Trading, made a huge leap from his 16th place finish last year passing through the same treacherous route.

Inspite of his young age, Igimax surprisingly conquered the tough terrains that is rolling and undulating with very steep mountain ranges without stopping or even just dismounting on his bike.

Igimax attributed his remarkable finish to his daily climbing practices in Busay Hills during Christmas break, opting to forego a holiday vacation outside of Cebu just to be able to harness his climbing skills.

"His sacrifice really paid off," said Igi's proud dad Jonathan "Maxi" Maximo. "His new token wheel equipment, made of carbon fibre, is much lighter and more aerodynamic than his previous one, making him more faster," added the award-winning sportsman.

SURBAN RULES TOUR NI FRANK

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Published in Sun Star Cebu Newspaper on Jan. 11, 2010 Tues. issue
by Iste S. Leopoldo, Staff Writer
Mike Limpag, Sports Editor

DESPITE the rain, slippery road and fog at the transcentral highway, Niño Surban lived up to his lofty billing and ruled the men’s category A of the 2011 Tour ni Frank, as he swept both stages capped by the mountain race from Toledo City to Busay last Sunday.

Surban also won the criterium race on the first day.

“Nakataghap. I finished the Toledo-Busay race in less than two hours,” said Surban.

He was followed by Rolly Cabaluna and Nilo Barbalose, who finished in second and third places, respectively. Adan Abreand Elmer Navarro made the top five.

In the men’s category B, Elmo Clarabal took the title. He was followed by Jonas Ponseca and Ramon Espinosa.

Meanwhile, Dutch Adri Van Dongen took the men’s category C title. He outclassed Stage 1 leader Tatay Ty, who didn’t make it in the climbing stage, relegating the latter to the top five position.

Dongen is among the three foreign entries in this race. Ronnie Adlawan came in second, while Raffy Bacayo finished third.

Ryan Ocañada and youngest participant Luis Miguel “Igi” Maximo secured the fourth and fifth spots, respectively.

The 15-year-old Maximo put his new bike, a carbon wheel set provided by YKK Trading, to the test and actually made a better performance compared to last year, when he only came in 16th in the mountain stage.

“In spite of his young age, he managed to conquer an extremely difficult transcentral highway without stopping or dismounting from his bike,” Igi’s father Jonathan Maximo said in an e-mail sent to Sun.Star Cebu.

Jonathan added the junior cyclist had sacrificed for his sport and opted to forego a holiday vacation to practice his climbing skills.

“The sacrifices Igi made paid off. His new equipment, which is lighter, made him faster,” Jonathan said.

BLURRED?  Cyclists traversed a potentially dangerous race course in the mountains of Busay, which was foggy, slippery and wet in the second stage of the Tour ni Frank, dominated by Nino Surban. (Photo published in Sun Star Cebu Newspaper on Jan. 11, 2010 Tuesday issue)

SURBAN CLAIMS TOUR NI FRANK ELITE CLASS TITLE

Published in Cebu Daily News on January 11, 2011 Tuesday issue
by Jonas Panerio, Correspondent
Rick Gabuya, Sports Editor

FORMER RP squad member Nino Surban finished what he started as he claimed the title in the pro/elite class in the second and final stage of the 2011 Tour ni Frank yesterday morning at the tough and undulating hills of Busay, Cebu City.

Surban, who, last Saturday, won the criterium race that posed as the first stage of the tournament, did not miss a beat as he won stage 2, beating Rolly Cabaluna and Nilo Barbaloce, who finished in second and third place, respectively.

Adan Abrenica placed fourth while Elmer Navarro finished fifth.

The win once again gave Surban 25 points as he finished with a total of 50 in the two stages.

The second stage was a mountain road race that spanned Toledo City to Buak, Busay Hills, a grueling 55-kilometer distance that featured 36 kilometers of mountain ranges and just 19 of flat road.

Meanwhile, in class B, Elmo Clarabal reigned supreme as beat Jonas Ponseca and stage 1 winner Ramon Espinosa. John Gaspar was in fourth place while Danny Sena ended up in fifth.

Danish cyclist Adri Van Dongen took the title in the category C as he made the most out of his experience in mountain biking. Ronnie Adlawan, a fifth placer in the first stage, placed second while Raffy Bacayo was in third. Ryan Ocanada was in fourth while Luis Miguel Maximo, the youngest racer in the tournament, placed fifth. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio

SURBAN HARI SA TOUR NI FRANK

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Published in Sun Star Superbalita News on Jan 10, 2011 Monday issue
by Jun Migallen, Sports Editor

SUBLING gipatugbabawan ni Nino Surban kagahapon ang Tour ni Frank aron langkaton ang over-all title men’s Category A nga nanukad sa City Hall sa dakbayan sa Toledo, miagi sa Trans Central Highway ug gitapos diha sa Buak, Busay Hills, Cebu City.

Si Nino, lumad nga taga Danao City, kinsa mao usab ang nanghawod sa Stage 1 nakahakot og 25 puntos sa rota nga mitadlas og 55 ka kilometros, 36 niini ubos sa makutas ug tungason nga rota sa Transcentral Highway.

Nagsunod kaniya si Rolly Cabaluna nga may 20 puntos ug ikatulo usab ang beteranong si Nilo Barbaloce (16 pts.), ikaupat si Adan Abrenica (13 pts.) ug Elmer Navarro (11 pts.)

Sa men’s category B, ang triathlete nga si Elmo Clarabal mao usab ang mipatigbabaw, nagsunod sila si Jonas Ponseca, Ramon Espinosa, John Christopher Gaspar ug Danny Sena.

Wa usab magpabitin ang langyaw nga si Adri Van Dongen sa Holland sa dihang iyang gidominar ang men’s category C. Si Dongen maoy usa sa tulo ka foreign entries samtang laing duha gikan sa Japan sa Category A ug C.

Nagsunod kaniya si Ronnie Adlawan, ang 5th placer sa Stage 1 Criterium, ug maoy bugtong nakasulod sa winners pudiom sa Stage 2 nga gani ang Stage 1 leader nga si Tata Ty wa masulod sa top 5.

Ikatulo si Raffy Bacayo, dayon nagsunod si Ryan Ocanada ug ikalima ang pinakabatang entrante, ang 15 anyos nga si Luis Miguel “Igi” Maximo nga gipaluyohan sa YKK Trading.

Ang uwan, kadangog sa kalsada ug ingon man ang kabaga sa gabon maoy naghatag og kalisdanan sa mga partisipante sa kompetisyon nga gi-esponsoran sa Fil-Am nga si Frank Gatdula sa Stockton, CA.

TOUR NI FRANK.  Makutas ug tungason nga rota sa Transcentral Highway nga sama ning makita sa ibabawng hulagway ang gilatas sa mga partisipante sa Stage 2 sa Tour ni Frank nga natapos kagahapon.  (Published in Sun Star Super Balita on Jan. 10, 2011 Monday issue)

SURBAN NANGHAWOD UNANG ADLAW

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Published in Banat Newspaper on January 9, 2010 Sunday issue
by Lemuel Maglinte, Staff Writer
Yoyo Abayan, Sports Editor

CEBU, Philippines - Matay-an pa ang kadina sa bisikleta ni Niño Surban nungka ang iyang abilidad dihang iyang gidominar ang criterium event sa 2011 Tour ni Frank kagahapon didto sa north reclamation area, Mandaue City.

Wala kapiog sa beteranong Cebuano cyclist ang tang-ang Japanese pro rider nga si Kenji Takeya, kinsa wala kalahutay sa kainit sa klima dinhi sa Sugbu.

"It was snowing in Japan when he left, so pag-abot pa lang niya, nireklamo na sa kainit. Wala ka-agwanta although he was with the group of Niño during the race," matud pa ni Miguel Flores sa Cebu Cycling sa The Freeman, ang igsuong mantalaan sa Banat News.

Sulod sa 40 minutos nga walay puas nga tinindakay sa lima ka laps nga adunay 2.3 kilometros nga gilay-on matag usa, si Surban maoy nag-una sa Class A ug gisundan siya ni Elmer Navarro.

Ang kanhi Tour Pilipinas champion nga si Rolando Pagnanawon maoy misakmit sa ikatulong dapit.

Ang Class B, gipangulohan ni Ramon Espinosa uban sa iyang mga runners-up nga sila si Jerome Rodriguez ug Lyndon Caraquel.

Si Tata Ty maoy naghari sa Class C batok nila ni Lito Quebec ug Tata Codina nga mipahiluna sa ikaduha ug ikatulo nga dapit.

Ang labing batang seklista nga si Igi Maximo, 15-anyos, pakyas pagsulod sa top 5, apan mipakita og ngilngig nga performance pinaagi sa paghuman sa lumba uban ang mga beterano ug tang-ang seklista.

Karong adlawa ipahigayon ang katapusang leg sa Tour Ni Frank, ang 60-km road race gikan sa Toledo City subay sa Balamban Transcentral Highway paingon dinhi sa Sugbu. (BANATSPORTS)

Ang fast rising Cebuano junior cyclist nga si Luis Miguel "Igimax" Maximo (tuo) nag-una sa likuon nga bahin sa rota atol sa criterium race sa 2011 Tour ni Frank agahapon didto sa Mandaue City reclamation area. Ang 15-anyos ug tinun-an sa PAREF-Springdale maoy labing bata nga partisipante sa adult/senior competition. (Published in Banat News Jan. 9, 2011 Sunday issue)

SURBAN TOPS CRITERIUM RACE OF "TOUR NI FRANK" CYCLING

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Published in The Freeman Newspaper on January 9, 2011 Sunday issue
by Caecent No-ot Magsumbol, Staff Writer
Manny Villaruel, Sports Editor

CEBU, Philippines - Niño Surban showed he is far from rusting out as he dominated the criterium event of the 2011 Tour ni Frank at the Mandaue City reclamation area yesterday.

Surban was up to the challenge of beating a Japanese pro rider Kenji Takeya, but the latter melted under the heat of the sun.

“It was snowing in Japan when he left, so pag-abot pa lang niya, nireklamo na sa kainit.Wa kaagwanta although he was with the group (of Niño) during the race,” said Cebu Cycling’s Miguel Flores.

Surban finished first after 40 minutes of non-stop action plus five laps with 2.3 kilometers per lap that gained him the overall leadership going into the 60km road race from Toledo City to Balamban via Transcentral Highway today.

Elmer Navarro is back on track, trailing Surban in class A, while former Tour Pilipinas champion Rolando Pagnanawon’s sons Jybop and Jhunvie wound up third and fourth as Nilo Barbalose came out fifth.

In class B, Ramon Espinosa clinched the top spot after edging out the unpredictable Jerome Rodriguez. Lyndon Caraquel placed third while the next two seats were occupied by Danny Sena and Art Lambo.

Tata Ty topped the equally-exciting class C action over Lito Quebec while Tata Codina, Nonoy Abasola and Ronnie Adlawan placed third to fifth.

The 15-year-old Luis Miguel "Igi" Maximo, the youngest participant, failed to barge into the top five, but managed to survive the blistering pace and stayed with the chasing group towards the finish.

The new carbon wheelset provided by YKK Trading helped Igimax a lot in keeping pace with his senior counterparts in the race. The pride of PAREF-Springdale is expected to even give a better performance in today's second and final stage.

The Tour Ni Frank is sponsored by Vellum Cycles, Poccari Sweat, OZ Racing, KIA Motors, Nagashima, Signa Modena and Blood Red along with Camelback USA, Tiger Energy Biscuits, Timex, TWO Sandals, Habagat, Recycle, RNVIOS Construction,Alphine Electrical Supply, YKK, Cyclelogic, Creative Sounds, Ripstuff Outdoors and 1020 Avenue catering services. (FREEMAN)

Fast rising Cebuano junior cyclist Luis Miguel "Igimax" Maximo (R) leads in the turnabout portion of the route during the criterium race of the 2011 Tour ni Frank yesterday at the Mandaue City reclamation area.  The 15-year old PAREF-Springdale student is the youngest participant in the adult/senior competition. (Published in The Freeman Newspaper on Jan. 9, 2011 Sunday issue)

SURBAN TOPS TOUR DE FRANK

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Published in Sun Star Newspaper on January 9, 2011 Sunday issue
by Iste S. Leopoldo, Staff Writer
Mike Limpag, Sports Editor

CEBU’s top cyclist Niño Surban took the title in the the men’s Category A Elite/Pro division of the criteruim race of the Tour ni Frank 2011 at the Mandaue North Reclamation Area yesterday.

Surban, an RP team member, was followed by Elmer Navarro at second place. The Pagnanawon brothers Jaybop and Jhunvie took the third and fourth spots, respectively, while veteran rider Nilo Barbalose came in at fifth place.

In Category C, Taty Ty took the top spot to earn 25 points. Lito Quebec came in second, while Tata Codina finished at third. Nonoy Abasola and Ronnie Adlawan complete the top five.

The youngest participant in the race, 15-year-old cycling prodigy Luis Miguel “Igi” Maximo, made a decent finish yesterday in the men’s category C of the criterium race

Maximo, a junior cyclist, survived the blistering pace and stayed with the chasing group towards the finish line.

Meanwhile, Ramon Espinosa took the title in the men’s category B. He was followed by Jerome Rodriguez and Lyndon Caraquel. Danny Sena and Art Lambo finished at fourth and fifth places, respectively.

While yesterday’s race was relatively easy as it was on a flat surface, racers will get tested today in the mountain stage of the race. It will start in Toledo City and finish in Busay.

MAIN PACK.  The second stage of the Tour ni Frank will be a bit more challenging today with the uphill route from Toledo City to Busay. (Sun Star Cebu Newspaper Jan. 9, 2011 Sunday issue)

CYCLING ACE SURBAN CLAIMS TOUR NI FRANK CLASS A TITLE

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Published in Cebu Daily News on Jan. 9, 2011 Sunday issue
by Jonas Panerio, Correspondent
Rick Gabuya, Sports Editor


CYCLING ACE Nino Surban once again asserted his dominance over the rest of the local field as he ruled the men's category A in the first stage of the 2011 Tour ni Frank yesterday morning at the North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City.

Surban, a long-time member of the RP squad, showed that he was in a class all on his own as he won the criterium race in the said category, outlasting runners-up Elmer Navarro and siblings Jaybop and Jhunvie Pagnanawon in the 40-minute and five lap race.

The Pagnanawons are the sons of former Tour of Luzon champion, Boy Pagnanawon.

The win earned Surban, 25 points, which he will bring to the second and final stage of the race today. The runners-up gained 20, 16, 13 and 11 points, respectively while finishers got five points each.

The men's category B saw Ramon Espinosa come away with the Stage 1 win as he edged Jerome Rodriguez, Lyndon Carequel, Danny Sena and Art Lambo. Category B raced for 30 minutes and additional four laps.

Meanwhile, over in the men's category C, Tata Ty emerged victorious as he broke away early on and withstood a gallant comeback by Lito Quebec towards the end of the race. Tata Codina wound up in third place while Nonoy Abasola claimed fourth place. Fifth belonged to Ronnie Adlawan. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio

IGI Maximo leads the pack of riders as they negotiated a curve during the 2011 Tour ni Frank yesterday. (Published in Cebu Daily News on Jan. 9, 2011 Sunday issue)

IGI MAXIMO VIES IN TOUR NI FRANK

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Published in Cebu Daily News on January 8, 2011 Saturday issue
by Jonas Panerio, Correspondent
Rick Gabuya, Sports Editor

CYLCING PRODIGY Luis Miguel “Igi” Maximo will be aiming to kickstart another successful year in cycling as he tackles the 2011 Tour ni Frank armed with a new wheelset today in a Criterium Race set at the North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City.

This is the same event where Maximo turned heads with his passion and determination in surviving the steep hills of the Trans Central Highway on his way to finishing an incredible ninth place in the men's category C.

Now, with his wins in the Philippine Premier Cycling League tucked firmly under his belt, Maximo is aiming to reach new heights as he races 36 kilometers, a distance that poses as Stage 1 of Cebu's premier cycling race.

Stage 2 will held tomorrow and it will be an even tougher race, as it will be a 55 km road race starting from Toledo City to Balamban that will pass through the dreaded hills of Busay and the Trans Central highway. Maximo will be competing in the men's category C once again.

Maximo will be heading into today's race armed with a new Token T50 tubular carbon wheelset that was given to him by new sponsor YKK Trading through James Montecillo. Aside from YKK, Maximo is also supported by Oz Racing, another Cebu-based company owned by Zandro Fajardo. /Correspondent Jonas Panerio

IGI MAXIMO rides his new imported Token T50 tubular carbon bike from YKK Trading (Cebu Daily News Jan. 8, 2011 Saturday issue)

IGI MAXIMO TO COMPETE IN 2011 TOUR NI FRANK

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Published in Sun Star Newspaper on January 8, 2011 Saturday issue

by Iste S. Leopoldo, Staff Writer

Mike Limpag, Sports Editor

CEBU’s rising junior cyclist Luis Miguel “Igi” Maximo will be competing in the 2011 Tour ni Frank this weekend.

Maximo will be racing against several top cyclists in the criterium, a 36-kilometer, 15-lap race around the North Reclamation Area in Mandaue City. He will then join the 55-km road race from Toledo City to Balamban this Sunday.

“He will be passing by the dreaded Transcentral Highway and all the way to Busay Hills. Since there is no junior category for the event, Igi will be competing with the adults in Category C,” Jonathan Maximo, the father of Igi, said in an e-mail to Sun.Star Cebu.

It was in this event when Igi was discovered. The 14-year-old impressed other cyclists after surviving the steep climb at the Transcentral Highway without stopping or dismounting on his bike. He also placed ninth in the men’s category C.

“The cycling event will have the same date as the Cebu Marathon. Igi would have wanted to join both events but he has to give priority to cycling this time because of prior commitments. Last year, he joined the CCM 5K category,” Jonathan said.

Igi will test his wheel set sponsored by YKK Trading, a Cebu-based bike shop owned by James Montecillo, who decided to support Igi due to his excellent performance both in sports and academics.

OZ RACING SINULOG BISIKLETA NIGHT FUN RIDE

KENDA SUPER DOMESTIQUE TUBULAR TIRE

Like the Volare, a classic racing and all-round tubular. The tire of choice for Kenda's professional cycling teams.  Read more... Available @ YKK Trading

TOKEN CARBON TUBULAR ROAD WHEELSET

50mm Aero profile 700C carbon fiber rims with 20/24H lacing & sealed bearings.  Available in C50 (carbon clincher) weighing @ 1560g/set or T50 (tubular carbon) weighing @ 1405g/set.  Read more

Official carbon tubular wheelset of
Luis Miguel Maximo

Available @ YKK Trading

2010 CEBU CYCLING XMAS CRIT

2010 CEBU CYCLING CHRISTMAS CRITERIUM

Dec. 31, 2010 8:30AM Reclamation, Mandaue City, Cebu, Phils.

Sponsored by CebuCycling.com

CATEGORY C

Photos by TEAM maX1mo

2010 TOUR NI FRANK

2010 TOUR NI FRANK

Jan 24, 2010 Sunday

Sponsored by Frank Gatdula Organized by Cebu Cycling

STAGE 2: TOLEDO-BALAMBAN-TCH-BUSAY MOUNTAIN STAGE

 Trans Central Highway (TCH) has become a zigzag road

 Igi Maximo (left) with Tata Codina (right)

Its Bogart going left!

...and Bogart going right!

Photos by TEAM maX1mo

2010 CEBU CYCLING XMAS CRIT

2010 CEBU CYCLING CHRISTMAS CRITERIUM

Dec. 31, 2010 8:30AM Reclamation, Mandaue City, Phils.

Organized by CebuCycling.com

CATEGORY A/B

Photos by TEAM maX1mo

2010 CEBU CYCLING XMAS CRIT

2010 CEBU CYCLING CHRISTMAS CRITERIUM

Dec. 31, 2010 8:30AM Reclamation, Mandaue City, Phils.

Sponsored by CebuCycling.com

CATEGORY C

Photos by TEAM maX1mo

2010 CEBU CYCLING XMAS CRIT

Bunch sprint finish in 2010 Cebu Cycling Criterium - Men Category C, Dec. 31, 2010 8:30AM @ Reclamation, Mandaue City, Phils.  15yo junior Igi Maximo survived the race, finishing a decent 6th place.

2010 CEBU CYCLING XMAS CRIT

2010 CEBU CYCLING CHRISTMAS CRITERIUM

Dec. 31, 2010 8:30AM Reclamation, Mandaue City, Cebu

CATEGORY A/B

Photos by TEAM maX1mo

2010 CEBU CYCLING XMAS CRIT

2010 CEBU CYCLING CHRISTMAS CRITERIUM

Dec. 31, 2010 8:30AM Reclamation, Mandaue City

CATEGORY C

Photos by TEAM maX1mo