Scorching Javiniar tops Tour of Luzon time trial; Joo widens overall lead

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Tour of Luzon Stage 5 conqueror Joseph Javiniar again flexes his speed with his second leg win, taking the 15.2-kilometer Stage 7 individual time trial with a good gap over Korean powerhouse Dae Yeong Joo

PANGASINAN, Philippines – Like the blistering summer heat, the top stars of the 2025 Tour of Luzon refused to let up with one day left in the weeklong “Great Revival” competition, as familiar names dominated the individual time trial in Labrador, Pangasinan on Wednesday, April 30.

Stage 5 winner Joseph Javiniar, captain of the Excellent Noodles team, bested 99 other competitors in the alternate race format with a scorching sprint time of 17 minutes and 25 seconds, 38 seconds.

Individual general classification (GC) leader Dae Yeong Joo of Korea’s Gapyeong Cycling claimed second-place, 38 seconds behind Javiniar’s winning time.

Stage 6 and individual GC second-placer Mervin Corpuz, captain of MPT DriveHub, completed the Stage 7 podium at third, clocking 14 seconds off Joo in the individual race-against-the-clock through the narrow roads to Labrador, a quiet seaside town 15.2 kilometers away from bustling Lingayen.

Though Corpuz has some literal ground to make up to catch Joo for the scintillating P1 million prize, he has taken a relaxed approach in the final 172.5-kilometer stage up to Baguio. Today’s ultimate stage features a punishing 34.3-kilometer ascent via Kennon Road to the last finish line, with the winner gaining the distinction of King of the Mountain.

“For me, I’ll just enjoy the uphill climb. That’s where we will find out who’s the best,” he said in Filipino.

“In terms of percentages, I’m still at 100%,” said Corpuz, echoing his sentiments after Stage 6. “Let’s all just enjoy tomorrow, no pressure.”

Corpuz, after all, only needs to protect his own lead over the rest, as he and his team MPT DriveHub are both in second place in the individual and team GCs. Both positions still merit hefty cash prizes should they stay where they are.

In Baguio City’s Camp John Hay, the 2025 tour comes to a historic close after a 1,074-kilometer trek from Paoay, Ilocos Norte, then down to Clark, Pampanga, and finally back up to the summer capital.

There, the new Tour of Luzon icons will be made, 23 years after the last batch reached the finish, all for the hope that the “Great Revival” will spark a fiery renaissance of Philippine cycling. – Rappler.com