Rolling dice on career pays off for Javiniar
CLARK—Joseph Javiniar took a risk when he left his stable job to pursue a career in cycling.
But he found he’s all the better for it.
From working as a blue-collar employee at a small restaurant in Pagsanjan, Laguna, Javiniar has risen to prominence after winning Stage 5 of the MPTC Tour of Luzon on Monday.
The rider from Excellent Noodles Cycling Team claimed a solo victory, breaking away from a high-speed group at the end of a grueling 160.6-kilometer course that looped from New Clark City in Tarlac back to this former US airbase.
“For me, the course was extremely difficult with all the climbs and downhill rides,” said Javiniar, speaking in Filipino after securing his first career stage win in three hours, 29 minutes, and 20 seconds.
Three-time national road champion Jonel Carcueva of MPT Drivehub placed second, arriving 42 seconds behind, followed by Marc Ryan Lago of the Go For Gold Cycling Team in third. Three other riders crossed alongside Carcueva.
Meanwhile, Joo Dae-yeong, the individual general classification (GC) leader, remained composed, finishing with the main peloton just a minute behind Javiniar, alongside most of his closest rivals.
Overall, South Korea’s Joo continues to set the pace, maintaining a four-minute, 30-second lead over Ronald Oranza of Standard Insurance Philippines for the fourth consecutive day.
“It was harder than yesterday. I just rode along with the rest of the pack,” said a smiling Joo, who had little trouble retaining the yellow jersey, symbolizing the race’s leadership.
There were no major shifts in the GC standings, with Aidan James Mendoza of Go For Gold staying third overall, 4:36 behind; Dominic Perez of Exodus Army Cycling Team in fourth (4:43); and Mervin Corpuz of MPT Drivehub in fifth (4:44).
George Oconer (Standard Insurance Philippines) is sixth (4:46), followed by Rustom Lim (MPT Drivehub) at seventh (4:54), Carcueva (4:57), Jeremy Lizardo (Standard Insurance) at ninth (5:05), and Lago at tenth (5:10).
Their breakaway efforts early in the stage helped propel them into the Top 10.
Javiniar was among the eight-man breakaway group—including Carcueva, Lizardo, and Lago—that attacked right after the neutral zone on the iconic Sacobia Bridge in Mabalacat, Pampanga. They managed to hold the lead for more than 140 km, enduring the swerving terrain and intense heat in San Jose, Tarlac.
“When I was pedaling uphill, it felt like I was moving backward. I just kept telling myself not to give up,” said the 24-year-old Javiniar, a high school graduate who dreams of becoming a policeman someday.
“We helped each other in the lead group, but I noticed many were starting to make their move as we neared the finish, so I attacked in the last five kilometers,” he added.
Tuesday’s Stage 6 covers a longer 174.5-km flat route to Lingayen, Pangasinan, passing through the towns of San Jose, Camiling, and Bayambang in Tarlac and Urbiztondo, Mangatarem, and Bugallon in Pangasinan.
