Cajucom captures Stage 3 but Korean Joo stays at the helm
At A Glance
- SAN JUAN, La Union -- Victoria Sports Cycling Team's Ean Cajucom outshone the big guns in a mass finish to clinch the 135-kilometer Stage 3 of the 2025 Tour of Luzon that started at the Capitol Quezon Avenue in Vigan, Ilocos Sur and ended in front of the San Juan Municipal Hall here.
SAN JUAN, La Union -- Victoria Sports Cycling Team’s Ean Cajucom outshone the big guns in a mass finish to clinch the 135-kilometer Stage 3 of the 2025 Tour of Luzon that started at the Capitol Quezon Avenue in Vigan, Ilocos Sur and ended in front of the San Juan Municipal Hall here.
The 22-year-old native of Marikina was part of the peloton that swallowed the 8-rider lead pack in the last five kilometers to time 2 hours, 51 minutes and 42 seconds along with 98 others.
Malaysia Pro Cycling Team’s Ahmad Syazrin Awang Ilah and Dreyna Orion Cement’s Poul Aquino came in second and third with a similar time, as well as Stage 1 winner Joo Dae Yeong of the Gapyeong Cycling Team, Standard Insurance’s Ronald Oranza, and Go for Gold’s Aidan James Mendoza.
Joo, who was part of that group at 76th place, maintained his overall lead and kept the yellow jersey with an accumulated time of 7:04:27, four minutes and 32 seconds ahead of Ronald Oranza. Mendoza remained at third overall, just 12 seconds slower than Oranza.
“Nung Stage 1 kasi nagkamali kami. Wala kaming tao sa harap, napabayaan namin. Kaya nagkaroon kami ng idea kung anong gagawin namin at nasunod naman ngayon,” said Cajucom, who came from a family of cyclists in his father, Romeo Camingao and brother Jhon Mark Camingao.
“Sprinter ako ng team. Ako yung para sa mga flat stages para meron akong mabigay na power sa last kilometers,” he added.
A group of eight riders bannered by Standard Insurance’s Jeremy Lizardo, Exodus Army’s Daryl Dulatre and Wenz Desabelle, Victoria Sports’ Daniel Cariño, Go for Gold’s Jaypee Olarte, MPT Drivehub Cycling Team’s Junreck Carcueva, Dandex T-Prime’s John Lloyd Cuenca and Excellent Noodles’ Mar Francis Sudario broke away from the peloton entering Candon City and kept a two-and-a half minute lead.
A 14-rider crash disrupted the peloton some 35 kilometers from the finish line but managed to make their move in the final stretch.
“Muntik na nga ako dun,” said Oranza, adding that he had just finished hydrating when the crash occurred.
Meanwhile, Standard Insurance also kept the team general classification lead with 28:38:24, just 19 seconds ahead of closest pursuer MPT Drivehub. Exodus Army was 54 seconds slower at third.
Stage 4 will feature a 168.76-km rolling course that will start at the Eagle of the North in Agoo, La Union and will finish at Filinvest Mimosa Acacia Drive in Clark, Pampanga.