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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Korean wins Tour of Luzon title; Morales second

Korean wins Tour of Luzon title; Morales second

Published May 1, 2025 07:26 am

At A Glance

  • BAGUIO CITY -- Korean Joo Dae Yeong unleashed a last-gasp effort in the killer mountains of Benguet to rule one of the closest local races in history in the revived 2025 Tour of Luzon on Thursday, May 1.

BAGUIO CITY -- Korean Joo Dae Yeong unleashed a last-gasp effort in the killer mountains of Benguet to rule one of the closest local races in history in the revived 2025 Tour of Luzon on Thursday, May 1.

Dae Yeong Joo of Korea Cycling Team-Over all Winner Tour of Luzon01.jpg
Gapyeong Cycling Team's  Joo Dae Yeong rules the revived Tour of Luzon.

The 28-year-old top rider of the Gapyeong Cycling Team refused to relent after busting a rear tire heading to Baguio City and still went for it as he did the whole race to clock 4 hours, 21 minutes and 31 seconds in the challenging 177.54-kilometer Stage 8 that started in Lingayen, Pangasinan and ended inside Camp John Hay here.

It was enough for the two-time national Korean champion to capture the overall individual title, accumulating 22 hours, 21 minutes and eight seconds after eight gruelling stages that started in Paoay, Ilocos Norte and passed by Ilocos Sur, La Union, Tarlac, Pampanga, Pangasinan and Benguet.

He also pocketed the P1 million top purse.

So impressive was Joo that he clung to the yellow jersey from start to finish and survived the absence of three of his four teammates who were involved in a crash in Stage 6.

“I’m not thinking that much about the yellow jersey. I just kept on going,” said Joo. “There are many Filipino strong riders and I just followed (today). I just want to finish well.”

Standard Insurance’s Jan Paul Morales, a multiple champion in Ronda Pilipinas, took advantage of his familiarity at the dreaded Lion’s Head leading to the finish line and went on to finish second behind lap winner Joshua Pascual of Excellent Noodles.

But his lap time of 4:18:34 only put him six seconds behind Joo for the individual general classification in a heartbreaking finish.

Still, Morales was gracious in defeat.

“Syempre may konting panghihinayang. Masaya na rin ako sa performance ko kahit may iniinda,” said Morales, who managed to come back in the race after a crash in the last 400 meters of Stage 1 in Paoay.

“Eto kasing road race, anybody’s race eh. Sabi ko kapag nag-champion ako, magre-retire na ako. Pero hindi pa ako nagcha-champion, so may isa pa ako,” added the 39-year-old.

Meanwhile, Joo remained at the peloton throughout the stage, and even went as far as the fourth group heading to the crucial 10 kilometers at the famous Lion’s Head along Kennon Road.

At one point, MPT Drivehub’s Mervin Corpuz took the provisional overall lead by 2:30 minutes after being part of the nine-rider lead pack at the flat roads of Pangasinan, before fading away in the last 15 kms.

Pascual, for his part, came out of nowhere to shock the field by crowning himself the “Eagle of the Mountain”, and even taking the lap victory in 4:16:14.

“Ito na siguro ang biggest victory ko. Pangarap kong mag-champion,” said the Nueva Vizcaya native.

Completing the overall Top 10 were third placer Jonel Carcueva of MPT Drivehub (22:22:00), Victoria Sports’ Nichol Pareja (22:22:02), Standard Insurance’s Jeremy Lizardo (22:23:40), 7-eleven Roadbike’s Rench Michael Bondoc (22:24:15), Go for Gold’s James Paul Escumbien (22:24:42) and Jerico Lucero (22:24:50), Standard Insurance’s Ronald Oranza (22:24:53) and MPT Drivehub’s Rustom Lim (22:25:50).

Meanwhile, MPT Drivehub grabbed the team general classification with 88:22:02 to go home with the P1 million cash purse, with Standard Insurance placing second after registering 11 seconds slower.

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