Sokor ace leaves field eating dust in Paoay, but downplays overall chances

Joo Dae-yeong celebrates at the finish. —CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

PAOAY, ILOCOS NORTE—Joo Dae-yeong isn’t much concerned about the fame attached to conquering the great revival of the MPTC Tour of Luzon, with the premier rider from South Korea’s Gapyeong Cycling Team saying that winning the overall individual title isn’t his cup of tea.

“I don’t think so, but I’ll try,” Joo, whose sprinting talent in the flat opening stage was on full display, said when asked of his chances of clinging on to the overall lead until the end of the eight-stage race.

But he got what he wanted in the 190.70-kilometer lap that started and ended in this sleepy city.

“I wanted a solo finish. That was the plan,” Joo, who clocked four hours, 12 minutes and 45 seconds to finish by his lonesome in front of the 300-year-old Paoay church. “I also plan to take the sprints points and keep on getting them [in succeeding laps].”

But Ronald Oranza of Standard Insurance Philippines, who checked in a far second, four minutes and 32 seconds behind, is not buying Joo’s humble statements. “We competed against him (Joo) many times in international races. He’s a strong rider, and it would be difficult to beat him if he and his team continue to assert themselves in succeeding stages,” said Oranza in Filipino.

Joo also did not show signs of being bothered by the humidity and scorching heat on a cloudless day.

“I did my training under humid conditions two weeks ago in Korea,” said Joo, who will wear the red jersey symbolic of individual leadership on Friday’s second stage. “It’s very hot here, so I just hydrated myself with ice and water.”

Stage 2 of the race, presented by Duckworld PH and Cignal, will be a team time trial covering 68.39 km going to Vigan City from here.

Aidan James Mendoza of Go For Gold Cycling Team arrived third, 4:40 behind, followed by Dominic Perez, 4:44 back.