Korean Kyeong Ho Min of Seoul Cycling Team delivered a stunning late attack to win Stage 6 of the MPTC Tour of Luzon 2026, charging from behind after the climb and powering all the way to the finish line.
The 228.8 km stage from Tuguegarao to Pagudpud, the longest of the tour, began with an aggressive breakaway. Min of Seoul Cycling Team joined Mark Julius Bordeos of Pangasinan Cycling Team and Mervin Corpuz of 7Eleven Cliqq Roadbike Philippines Team at the front, setting the early pace.
Midway through the race, Mar Francis Sudario of Excellent Noodles Cycling Team crashed and was forced to abandon, later taken by Cardinal Santos Medical Center to the nearest hospital.
As the peloton entered Gattaran, the breakaway group held a slim advantage. In the first intermediate sprint, Corpuz led the charge, followed by Bordeos and Jexxel Ehd Azur of Standard Insurance Philippines.
The leaders continued to work together, stretching their gap to more than four minutes over the peloton led by yellow jersey holder Nikita Shulchenko of LCW UAE Cycle.
With 91 km remaining, the second sprint saw Rench Michael Bondoc of Go for Gold Philippines, Bordeos, and Corpuz take top spots, as the break extended its lead to nearly eight minutes entering Sanchez Mira.
Corpuz again topped the next sprint ahead of Bordeos and Ariff Danial Noor Roseidi of the National Team Malaysia, keeping the pressure on the chasing pack.
After the sprint, the race opened up, and attacks began to fly Jhon Mark Camingao of Standard Insurance Philippines briefly went solo, but it was Min who made the decisive move.
Min attacked on the climb, surged past the leaders, and took control before the KOM. He crested the summit first ahead of Bondoc and Corpuz, claiming the mountain points and entering Ilocos Norte with momentum.
Despite repeated efforts from Corpuz, Min proved too strong. He held his lead after the climb and unleashed a powerful run in the final 10 km, leaving the rest behind.
Min crossed the line first to win the stage, followed by Ivan Anisimov of LCW UAE Cycle in second and Ronald Oranza of Standard Insurance Philippines in third.
Shulchenko kept the overall lead in the general classification, while Min secured both the stage victory and a standout performance from the mountains who is currently dominated by Dae Yeong Joo of Gapyeong Cycling Team.
The win marked the sixth stage victory by a foreign rider in this year’s tour. Min, known primarily as a time trial specialist, delivered a performance many had been expecting. The question now is whether he can defeat last year’s winner, Joseph Javiniar of Excellent Noodles Cycling Team, or if a new name will arise.
With several stages still to come, the battle for the yellow jersey remains wide open as the MPTC Tour of Luzon continues to unfold.
