CLARK— Joseph Javiniar of Excellent Noodles Cycling Team completed a solo finish in the eventful Stage 5 even as two-time Korean champion Joo Dae Young of the Gapyeong Cycling Team kept the lead in the MPTC Tour of Luzon: The Great Revival at the Filinvest Mimosa Acacia Drive here Monday.

Javiniar clocked three hours, 29 minutes and 20 seconds in a superb performance in 160-kilometer Clark to Clark stage, some 20 seconds ahead of his closest pursuers in this prestigious event presented by Duckworld PH in cooperation with Cignal.

The pride of Pagsanjan, Laguna Javiniar was part of the eight-man breakaway group in the iconic Sacobia Bridge in Mabalacat, Pampanga before soloing at home in the approach to the finish line for a first career stage win..

“Opo, first win ko po ito sa tour. Yun pinakamataas na napanalunan ko yun National Championship sa Tagaytay this year,”said Javiniar, who worked as a restaurant waiter in Pagsanjan before trying his hand in pro cycling in 2021.

“Hindi ko ini-expect na mananalo kasi kanina nung umaahon parang umaatras, tiniis ko na lang. Mabuti iyung iba nakipag-cooperate, nagpalitan kami ng maayos sa trangko. Dito na lang ako sa last five (kilometers) kumawala,” added Javiniar, noting the rolling and swerving terrain, plus the oppresive heat made life difficult for the 99 surviving riders from 16 teams

Three-time national cycling road champion Jonel Carcueva of MPT Drivehub and Marc Ryan Lago of Gold for Gold placed second and third, respectively.

Completing the top 10 riders were, Jeremy Lizardo of Standard Insurance Philippines, Nichol Pareja of Victoria Sports, John Patrick Pagtalunan of 7-Eleven Philippines, Nash Joshua Lim of Dreyna Orion Cement, Ean Cajucom of Victoria Sports, Aidan James Mendoza of Go for Gold and Ilah Ahmad Syazrin Awang of Malaysia Pro Cycling.

The Best Young Rider was John Patrick Pagtalunan from 7-Eleven Philippines.

There was hardly any movement atop the individual general classification standings with Joo keeping the yellow jersey for the fourth straight day.

The noted sprinter from South Korea’s Gapyeong Cycling Team is still ahead by four minutes and 30 seconds over Ronald Oranza of Standard Insurance Philippines. and 4:36 ahead of Aidan James Mendoza of Go For Gold Cycling Team.

Dominic Perez of Exodus Army Cycling Team and Mervin Corpuz of MPT Drivehub stayed in fourth and fifth with 4:43 and 4:44, respectively.

George Oconer of Standard Insurance Philippines is in sixth place (4:46); Rustom Lim of MPT Drivehub in seventh (4:54); Carcueva in eighth (4:57), Jeremy Lizardo of Standard Insurance in ninth (5:05) and Lago in 10th (5:10).

The individual general classification champion will earn P500,000 while the team champion brings home P1 million in the race also backed by Pilipinas Live, Meralco, Maynilad, Metro Pacific Health, Megaworld, Landco, PLDT and Smart.

The Tour’s great revival is endorsed by the Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission, Games and Amusements Board, BCDA and MVP Sports Foundation.

Tuesday’s Stage 6 is another long and winding route of 174.5kms going to Lingayen, Pangasinan, but is largely flat covering the towns of San Jose, Camiling and Bayambang in Tarlac and Urbiztondo, Mangatarem and Bugallon in Pangasinan.

The champion will be crowned after Stage 8 on Thursday in Baguio City.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Robert Andaya