South Korean cyclist Min Kyeong Ho clocked 5:12:13 to win Stage 6 of the MPTC Tour of Luzon. The race spanned 223.7 kilometers from Tuguegarao City to Pagudpud in Ilocos Norte.
Min, representing the Seoul Cycling Team, showcased remarkable endurance during the event, which is the longest leg of the 14-stage race. He seized the lead in the last 30 kilometers.
"It wasn't my plan to win this stage, as I was focused on tomorrow's time trial, but I took the opportunity," Min stated, reflecting on his unexpected victory.
The race commenced at 8 a.m. under the intense heat, concluding around 1 p.m. Min described the conditions, saying, "It's super hot, I almost died."
Noticing the struggle of a nine-man lead pack during a challenging climb, Min decided to break away and push for a solo finish. He explained, "I thought maybe I could do a solo from there."
Min's victory ended the two-stage winning streak of Russian Ivan Anisimov, who finished second, 1:17 behind. Local cyclist Ronald Oranza secured third place.
Despite initially leading the pack, Mervin Corpuz of 7ELEVEN Roadbike Philippines placed 31st after the lead evaporated in the final stretch.
Nikita Sulchenko maintained the yellow jersey, finishing 16th overall. He leads the individual general classification with a combined time of 19:01:14.
In the team classification, local teams Go for Gold Philippines, Standard Insurance Philippines, and 7ELEVEN hold the top three spots.