Joo pads overall lead as Tour winds up in Baguio
LABRADOR, PANGASINAN—A little less than 178 kilometers made up mostly of backbreaking climbs, but under expected better weather conditions, separate South Korean ace Joo Dae-yeong from the MPTC Tour of Luzon crown.
And he has made himself ready for it after doing just enough in the individual time trial (ITT) seventh stage on Wednesday, able to conserve a lot of energy while adding to his overall lead before the 99 surviving riders tackle the Lingayen to Baguio final stage on Thursday.
“Today, I just saved my energy so I’ll be prepared for [the final stage],’’ said Joo after finishing second to Joseph Javiniar in the 15-km race-against-the-clock penultimate lap from Lingayen to here.
Javinian timed 17 minutes and 25 seconds, and Joo, who now has a tally of 17 hours, 59 minutes and 37 seconds, added 14 seconds to his overnight lead in the individual race by checking in 38 seconds behind, with Melvin Corpuz now 2:10 off the pace after finishing third 52 seconds off.
“Everybody’s waiting for the next stage, which will determine who among us is the best,’’ said Gapyeong Cycling Team’s Joo, who has worn the yellow jersey of leadership since Stage 2.
While the first seven legs had the riders tackling extreme heat, there will be whiffs of fresh, cool air for them on Thursday, but coming with that is a strength-sapping 36-km ascent to the finish where they will pass the iconic Lion’s Head leading to the City of Pines.
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 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).
“I did well in the time trial today. I’ll now focus on the climb going to Baguio,’’ said Corpuz, who captured his third podium finish after placing second behind Stage 6 winner Muhammad Zahin Wahhi of Malaysia Pro Cycling.
Rench Michael Bondoc of 7Eleven Cliqq Roadbike Philippines fell to ninth from sixth, now 4:21 behind, and Ronald Oranza, who plummeted to 13th before the day began, recovered his bearings to stay at 10th, 4:58 off.
“My goal is to become champion if I’m lucky enough,” Corpuz, the sprint specialist who added climbing to his arsenal with the help of his uncle and coach Santy Barnachea, a three-time Tour champion, said in Filipino. “I think I’m capable of matching him (Joo). I also read his strategy.’’
The final stage is a gigantic climb to Camp John Hay, where the champion will receive a cool P1 million.
