PAOAY, Ilocos Norte — Joo Dae Young seized the opening stage of the MPTC Tour of Luzon under sweltering heat with a solo breakaway to the finish.
Joo, who rides for South Korea’s Gapyeong Cycling Team, timed four hours, 12 minutes and 45 seconds at the end of the 190.70-kilometer race presented by DuckWorld PH that began and ended in front of the 300-year-old Paoay church.
Oranza takes runner-up honors
Ronald Oranza of Standard Insurance Philippines placed second, four minutes and 32 seconds behind with Aidan James Mendoza of Go For Gold Cycling Team checking in third, 4:40 back.
``I wanted a solo finish. That was the plan,’’ said Joo after sprinting ahead of Jan Paul Morales in their two-man breakaway effort in Bacarra town some 30 kilometers from the finish.
From there, Joo was never threatened in claiming the red jersey, the overall individual general classification symbol of leadership, which the 28-year-old sprint specialist will wear in Friday’s team time trial Stage 2 race going to Vigan City.
``I also planned to take the sprints points and keep on getting them (in succeeding laps),’’ said Joo after winning the three sprint mini-races spread throughout the course.
The opening lap of the eight-stage race brought the 119 riders from 17 teams to Laoag City and the towns of Vintar and Pasuquin before making a U-turn in Pagudpod coming home.
The individual general classification champion will earn P500,000 while the team champion brings home P1 million at the end of the multi-stage race at Camp John Hay in Baguio City on May 1.
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