Ica Maximo wins Women's Open in Tour ni Frank
Congratulations to our YKK powered athlete - Cebuana Junior Cyclist - Ica Maximo wins the Women's Open Title of the 2016 Tour ni Frank last March 13, 2016. She will be joining the USA Cycling Road Development Series in California next month. Kudos Ica!!
From the Freeman newspaper -
Decorated Cebuana junior cyclist Ica Maximo may be much younger than Louie Villacin, but her experience in road racing paved the way for her to claim not only the stage 2 victory but also the overall crown in the women's open of the 2016 Tour Ni Frank in Danao City yesterday.
The 31-year-old Villacin, who ruled Stage 1 from JY to Tops last Saturday, was earlier tipped to win the ladies open but Maximo was not about to concede and gave Villacin a good race.
Maximo, only 16, led the charge in the first half of the 65-kilometer action from Danao to Lugo and back until she got caught up with Villacin in the climb part, showing that she is really a climber.
However, Maximo bounced back and eventually overtook Villacin at the downhill part going back to Danao.
Since then, the two protagonists figured in a neck-to-neck race, with Maximo outsmarting Villacin for the top spot in a lung-busting sprint finish.
Villacin and Maximo were actually tied in the overall standings, but Maximo got the yellow jersey per race ruling that the rider with the better finish in the last stage wins the crown.