WILD FINISH LOOMS: Javiniar strikes anew, rules Stage 7; Joo keeps yellow jersey

LABRADOR, Pangasinan — As soon as he crossed the finish line during Stage 7 of the Tour of Luzon on Wednesday, Korean Joo Daeyoung of Gapyeong Cycling Team immediately sought comfort in one of the tents that were scattered around the center of this sleepy fishing town.

Joo finished second behind Joseph Javiniar of Excellent Noodles in the individual time trial that kicked off 15.2 kilometers away in Lingayen but still managed to keep a stranglehold of the yellow jersey — symbolic of a rider’s leadership — in the multi-leg race.

Third place went to another Filipino entry — Mervin Corpuz of MPT DriveHub — who is threatening to steal the thunder from Joo when Stage 8 blasts off Thursday from Lingayen to Baguio City.

Based on the numbers, no rider is safe.

Not even Joo, whose 17 hours, 15 minutes and 37 seconds total time is just two minutes and 10 seconds faster than that of the Pangasinan-bred Perez, a nephew of the legendary Santy Barnachea.

Joo, who won Stage 1 in Paoay in Ilocos Norte and never ever took off the bright yellow uniform every rider in the eight-stage bikefest is aspiring to get hold of, actually was leading by just under two minutes in the general classification after Stage 6.

But on the eve of the final leg, Joo was starting to feel the after-effects of the searing heat.

A local man who was just delighted to see Joo tapped the cyclist’s shoulder to tell him that he did good.

“Joo, Joo, very good. Very good,” the pudgy man said.

Instead of thanking him, Joo gave the poor fellow a look before moving his chair away from his reach and began putting ice packs all over his body.

“I will just keep on going,” Joo said, noting that his runner-up finish was merely tactical in nature.

“I am ready to protect the yellow jersey. I just saved my energy so I will be prepared for Stage 8,” he added.

While focus will be on the title contenders such as Joo and Perez on the penultimate day of the event, Javiniar made heads turn with his sprint savvy by crossing the finish line in 17 minutes and 25 seconds.

It took 38 seconds for Joo to arrive and Corpuz in a little over 50 minutes.

Apparently, Javiniar could have done better if only he woke up on the right side of the bed.

“I wasn’t feeling good when I woke up and I only recovered my strength during the warmups and I am fortunate that the result was great,” said Javiniar, who also won Stage 5 to join fellow rising sprint specialist Ean Cajucom of Victoria Sports Pro Cycling (VSPC) as the only two-leg winners so far.

Javiniar won’t be among those favored to give Joo fits since his overall placing since he is at 61st spot but Nichol Pareja of VSPC and Jan Paul Morales of Standard Insurance, third and fourth placers in the general classification, are going to be in hot pursuit of Joo.

Jeremy Lizardo, also from Standard Insurance, is fifth.

Rounding up the rest of the top ten were Jonel Carcueva of MPT DriveHub, Jerico Lucero of Go For Gold, Mar Francis Sudario of Exodus Army, Rench Michael Bondoc of 7Eleven and Ronald Oranza of Standard Insurance.

Stage 8 will be a 177.54-kilometer grind to Camp John Hay where the 2025 champion will be crowned alongside the winners in various categories, including team and King of the Mountain.