LABRADOR, Pangasinan—Joseph Javiniar of Excellent Noodles Cycling Team blazed through the 15-kilometer individual time trial course on Wednesday, clocking in at an impressive 17 minutes and 25 seconds to claim victory in the penultimate stage of the MPTC Tour of Luzon.
This time trial, a crucial prelude to the final stage in Baguio City, saw overall leader Joo Dae Yeong of Gapyeong Cycling Team finish second, 38 seconds behind Javiniar.
Mervin Corpuz rounded out the podium, crossing the line 52 seconds after the stage winner in Stage 7 of the eight-day cycling event presented by Duckworld PH and Cignal.
“Medyo hindi maganda ang gising ko kanina. Naka-recover lang ako sa warm up at maganda ang naging resulta,” said Javiniar, celebrating his second stage win following his Stage 5 victory.
Despite finishing second in the stage, Joo maintained his firm grip on the yellow jersey, the symbol of overall leadership, for the seventh consecutive stage.
“I am ready to protect the yellow jersey. I just saved my energy, so I’ll be prepared for it,” said Joo, who has held the coveted jersey since his Stage 1 victory in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.
Mervin Corpuz, who had surged to second overall after Stage 6, now faces a slightly larger gap as Joo’s lead extended to two minutes and 10 seconds heading into the final stage of the bikathon supported by Pilipinas Live, Meralco, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Maynilad, Metro Pacific Health, Megaworld, Landco, PLDT and Smart.
Nichol Pareja of Victoria Sports Cycling Team rose to third overall after finishing fourth in the ITT, 3:05 adrift of the South Korean pacesetter and Jan Paul Morales moved a notch up to fourth, 3:09 back.
They dislodged Jeremy Lizardo (3:14 behind) of Standard Insurance and Jonel Carcueva (3:36) of MPT Drivehub, who dropped to fifth and sixth. Jerico Lucero (4:03) of Go For Gold Cycling Team improved to seventh as well as Mar Francis Sudario at eighth (4:21).
“Maganda naman ang performance ko dito sa time trial. Focus na ako bukas sa mga ahon ng Baguio,’’ said Corpuz, a nephew of three-time Tour champion Santy Barnachea and MPT Drivehub coach.
Joo, who assembled an accumulated clocking of 17 hours, 59 minutes and 37 seconds after seven days, is bracing himself for Thursday’s gigantic climb covering 177.54 kilometers from Lingayen to Camp John Hay in Baguio City where the champion will be determined.
The eight-stage race is sanctioned by PhilCycling and endorsed by the Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission, Games and Amusements Board, BCDA and MVP Sports Foundation.
Rench Michael Bondoc of 7Eleven Cliqq Roadbike Philippines fell to ninth from sixth (4:21) and Ronald Oranza, who plummeted to 13th before the day began, recovered his bearings to stay at 10th (4:58).