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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Malaysian tops Stage 6; Corpuz makes move in overall lead

Malaysian tops Stage 6; Corpuz makes move in overall lead

Published Apr 29, 2025 07:23 am

At A Glance

  • LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- Mervin Corpuz is making good progress in following the footsteps of his uncle, veteran cyclist Santy Barnachea, after baring his fangs in Stage 6 of the 2025 Tour of Luzon on Tuesday, April 29.

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- Mervin Corpuz is making good progress in following the footsteps of his uncle, veteran cyclist Santy Barnachea, after baring his fangs in Stage 6 of the 2025 Tour of Luzon on Tuesday, April 29.

Tour of Luzon Team Peloton-Stage 6_11.jpg
Yellow jersey wearer Joo Dae Yeong leads the peloton during Stage 6 of the Tour of Luzon.

The 27-year-old member of MPT Drivehub propelled himself to second behind overall leader Joo Dae Yeong of Korea’s Gapyeong Cycling Team after finishing behind lap winner Muhammad Zahin Wahhi of the Malaysian Pro Cycling Team in the 174.5 stage that started in Clark, Pampanga and ended at the Maramba Boulevard here.

A native of Umingan, Pangasinan, Corpuz delighted his provincemates and clocked 3 hours, 31 minutes and 12 seconds in a mass finish along with Wahhi and 10 others -- enough to trim Joo’s overall lead from 4:30 minutes to 1:56.

Joo, who finished the stage 2:42 minutes behind, retained the yellow jersey with 17:41:34 with Corpuz trailing in 17:43:30.

Prior to the stage, the Filipino was 4:44 behind Joo at fifth overall.

“Binabasa ko rin talaga yung galaw niya,” said Corpuz of the Korean standout. “Kung yung makina nga nag-o-overheat, yung tao pa kaya.”

Corpuz was actually part of the seven-rider chase group that swallowed the eight-rider lead pack along San Jose, Tarlac and held his place since then before the Malaysian sprinted his way in the last 230 meters for the lap win.

Corpuz's stage performance was enough to boost his bid of clinching the individual overall title, which now dangles a cool P1 million cash purse after organizers announced an additional P500,000 increase on the top prize pot.

“Kung papalarin, gusto kong mag-champion,” said Corpuz, who had two prior teams before racing for his current squad coached by his uncle.

Standard Insurance’s Jeremy Lizardo was third overall with 17:43:56, followed by MPT Drivehub’s Junel Carcueva (17:44:10), Standard Insurance’s Jan Paul Morales (17:44:15), 7-eleven’s Rench Michael Bondoc (17:44:23), Victoria Sports’ Nichol Pareja (17:44:23), Exodus Army’s Emmanuel Montemayor (17:44:28), Go for Gold’s Jerico Lucero (17:44:34), and Excellent Noodle’s Mar Francis Sudario (17:44:35).

Standard Insurance also remained atop the team general classification with 71:01:14, with MPT Drivehub just 32 seconds behind.

Corpuz said they are ready for the last two stages -- the 15.2-km Stage 7 Individual Time Trial from Lingayen to Labrador, Pangasinan and the hilly 177.54-km Stage 8 from Lingayen to Baguio on Thursday, May 1.

“One hundred percent ready ako sa climbing. Matira matibay dun sa Baguio. Yun ang mahirap talaga. Dun magkakaalaman,” he said.

“Yung sprint, bonus na lang yun eh. Ang importante talaga yung climb, saka time trial,” he added.

It would be a tough two stages for Joo after three of his four teammates, Choi Tae Yeon,  Park Gyong Min and Joo Mideum did not finish the race. Choi and Park were involved in a crash in San Jose, Tarlac.

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