ASTROBOY: Cajucom wows ‘em in Stage 3

SAN JUAN, La Union — Ean Cajucom, a 22-year-old from Marikina whose childhood dream was to become an astronaut, topped Stage 3 of the 2025 Tour of Luzon on Saturday after a 133.30-kilometer run from Vigan in Ilocos Sur.

Representing Victoria Sports Cycling Team, Cajucom crossed the finish line almost with the entire cast of 100-plus riders from 17 squads clenching his fist in triumph to celebrate the first stage win of his young and booming career.

The official time was two hours, 51 minutes and 42 seconds.

Still, Korea’s Stage 1 winner, Joo Daeyoung of Gapyeong Cycling Team kept a stranglehold of the yellow jersey or the overall lead.

Cajucom was a part of an eight-man breakaway pack that formed while getting ready to exit Tagudin in Ilocos Sur.

They Junreck Carcueva of MPT Drivehub, Wenz Desabelle and Daryl Dulatre of Exodus Army, Jeremy Lizardo of Standard Insurance, John Lloyd Cuenca of Dandex T-Prime, Mar Sudario of Excellent Noodles and Daniel Carino also of Victoria Sports Cycling Team.

Ahmad Syazrin Awalng Ilah of Malaysia Pro Cycling was the runnerup in the stage while Paul Aquino of Dreeyna Orion Cement placed third.

Rounding up the top ten are Ronald Oranza of Standard Insurance, Dominic Perez of Exodus Army, Lu Sao Hsuan of Taiwan, Mervin Corpuz of MPT Drivehub, Ariff danial Noor of Malaysia, Ryan Tugawin of Excellent Noodle and Jhon Carcueva of Jhon Carcueva of MPT Drivehub.

During the final push, the main peloton merged with the eight as exhaustion finally caught up with them and this happened in Bacnotan town, just five kilometers from the finish.

“I am the team’s sprinter and I save energy so I could give power in the last kilometers,” said Cajucom, who only reached Grade 12 at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Marikina because he fell in love with cycling.

“I didn’t go to school anymore because I was beginning to enjoy the sport with my father (who is also a cyclist),” he said.

Cajucom, who also traces his roots in the cycling province of Nueva Ecija, eventually gave up on his dream when he traveled to Europe for training.

The overall remains with Joo, who is more than four minutes ahead of Ronald Oranza of Standard Insurance with a total of 7:04.27. At third is Aidan James Mendoza of Go For Gold (4:44), Dominic Perez of Exodus Army (4:44) and George Oconer of Standard Insurance (4:46).

Stage 4 will get going in Agoo en route to Clark with the riders passing through Pangasinan and Tarlac for that 160-kilometer ride that will be mostly flat.

The team champion will receive P1 million while the individual will get P500,000.