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Manila Bulletin devider Sports devider Min Kyeong Ho wins Stage 13 time trial; Shulchenko widens lead ahead of decisive final stage

Min Kyeong Ho wins Stage 13 time trial; Shulchenko widens lead ahead of decisive final stage

Published May 12, 2026 02:18 pm

At A Glance

  • Riding for LCW UAE Cycling Team, Shulchenko finished 22 seconds behind Korean time-trial specialist Min Kyeong Ho, who powered through the 20-kilometer flat and straight course in 25 minutes and 39 seconds to rule the stage that started and ended at the Pangasinan Baywalk here on Tuesday, May 12.
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- Russian all-rounder Nikita Shulchenko settled for the runner-up honors in Stage 13’s individual time trial but still managed to build enough cushion in the general classification as the MPTC Tour of Luzon heads into its decisive uphill Stage 14 on Wednesday, May 13.
Riding for LCW UAE Cycling Team, Shulchenko finished 22 seconds behind Korean time-trial specialist Min Kyeong Ho, who powered through the 20-kilometer flat and straight course in 25 minutes and 39 seconds to rule the stage that started and ended at the Pangasinan Baywalk here on Tuesday, May 12.
Shulchenko’s steady ride further strengthened his hold on the yellow jersey, stretching his advantage over closest challenger Antoine Huby of 7-Eleven to 3:50 minutes.
But the 29-year-old Russian is far from easing up, with the final stage set to deliver another demanding test of power and endurance.
“(There’s) no relaxing yet. I will try my best to win,” said Shulchenko, who has been wearing the yellow jersey since the New Clark City-Palayan City Stage 3.
“Today is windy. It was a hard race and the road was not good, but I did my best,” he added.
A battle royale is expected in Stage 14, a grueling 181.8-kilometer route that will start in Lingayen and culminate in front of John Hay Hotels in Baguio City. The demanding course features two sprints and the brutal 38.6-km Hors Categorie ascent that will start at the Benguet Welcome Arch and will pass through Loakan Road all the way to the finish.
Huby has emerged as Shulchenko’s biggest threat, having already stamped his authority on two punishing uphill stages by winning Stage 10 over the grueling Bessang Pass and conquering Stage 12’s steep summit finish in Mangatarem.
Barring any major mishaps, the rest of the Top 10 contenders would need nothing short of a miracle to wrest the crown away.
That includes Shulchenko’s teammate Yousef Ibraheim Alrefai, who trails by 5:37 minutes; MPT Drivehub’s Nash Joshua Lim and 7-Eleven crowd favorite Mervin Corpuz, who are 8:05 and 8:54 off the pace; Malaysian National Team’s Muhammad Syawal Mazlin and 7-Eleven’s Ronnilan Quita, who are 9:26 and 9:46 behind; and MPT’s Rustom Lim and Seoul Cycling Team’s Jung Woo Ho, who are 12:19 and 13:30 behind.
Meanwhile, Min said finally clinching the time trial win after settling for third place in his first attempt back in Stage 7 was a long-awaited accomplishment.
“Unlike in Stage 7, I’m more fresh and I have more confidence and determination going to this stage,” said Min, a Tour of Korea champion.
Min added he is just trying his best to help his teammate, Jung, get a better standing in the Top 10.

Related Tags

Min Kyeong Ho Nikita Shulchenko Tour of Luzon
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