MVP has doubled the prize money for the individual general classification of the MPTC Tour of Luzon from P500,000 to one million pesos. Joseph Javiniar has ruled Stage 5, but South Korea's Joo Dae Yeong still wears the yellow jersey.
CLARK—Joseph Javiniar soloed it home and seized lap honors while Joo Dae Yeong continued to assume the mantle of overall leadership after Monday’s fifth stage of the MPTC Tour of Luzon.
Riding for Excellent Noodles Cycling Team, Javiniar cut loose from an accelerating seven-man lead pack approaching the finish and pointed to the sky as he crossed the line for a first career stage win.
"Hindi ko ine-expect na mananalo ako. Sobrang hirap ng breakaway from start to finish. Kanina lang nung paahon, pakiramdam ko umaatras ako. Tiniis ko na lang," said Javiniar after clocking three hours, 29 minutes and 20 seconds at the end of the 160.6-kilometer route.
Jonel Carcueva, a three-time national cycling road champion, made MPT Drivehub proud by checking in second, 42 seconds behind Javiniar with Marc Ryan Lago of Go For Gold Cycling Team completing the podium for the day.
They formed part of that eight-man group that attacked right away on the iconic Sacobia Bridge in Mabalacat, Pampanga just after the neutral zone in the race that brought everybody to New Clark City in Tarlac and back to this former United States airbase.
The speeding pack held on to the lead throughout to as far as San Jose in Tarlac where the rolling and swerving terrain, plus the heat, made life difficult for the 99 surviving riders from 16 teams in the eight-stage race presented by DuckWorld PH and Cignal.
"Buti iyung iba nakipag-cooperate, nagpalitan kami ng maayos sa trangko. Dito na lang ako sa last five (kilometers) kumawala. Halos nagkakagulangan na kay nag-attempt na ako bumanat," said Javiniar, who resigned as waiter in a restaurant in his hometown Pagsanjan, Laguna and shifted to cycling.
There was hardly any movement atop the individual general classification standings as Joo Dae Yeong retained the yellow jersey of leadership for the fourth straight day. Joo checked in with a big wave of riders, including the chief contenders, just a minute slower than the stage winner.
The premier sprinter from South Korea’s Gapyeong Cycling Team is still ahead by four minutes and 30 seconds over Ronald Oranza of Standard Insurance Philippines.
Aidan James Mendoza of Go For Gold Cycling Team stayed at third overall, 4:36 behind, while Dominic Perez of Exodus Army Cycling Team remained at fourth (4:43) and Mervin Corpuz of MPT Drivehub at fifth (4:44).
George Oconer of Standard Insurance Philippines lay at sixth (4:46) and Rustom Lim of MPT Drivehub at seventh (4:54) with Carcueva (4:57), Jeremy Lizardo of Standard Insurance (5:05) and Lago (5:10) thrusting themselves into the Top 10 following that bold breakaway upon flag off.
MVP provides extra boost
In recognition of the cyclists' patience and endurance, MVP Group of Companies chairman Manny V. Pangilinan announced an increase in the prize money.
The individual general classification champion will now earn one million pesos compared to the original P500,000.
The second placer will get half a million pesos from the previous P400,000. Meanwhile, the third placer will get P350,000 from the previous P300,000.
The team champion would still bring 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.