Stage 4: Dalton yields to Russian charge

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya, Philippines — The Russian charge at the MPTC Tour of Luzon rolled on as Ivan Anisimov of LCW UAE topped the punishing Stage Four in a photo finish, while compatriot and teammate Nikita Shulchenko kept the yellow jersey after the 159-kilometer ride from Palayan City, Nueva Ecija to here yesterday.

Anisimov outsprinted 32 riders in a mad dash to the line to claim stage honors in a route that went through three mountain passes, including the Category 1 Dalton Pass. The lead group clocked identical times of 3 hours, 59 minutes, and 41 seconds.

Seoul’s Lee Jung Hoon finished second while 7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines’ Ronnilan Quita took third.

The 23-year-old Moscow native scored the stage win despite figuring in a crash on the downhill run of Kirang in Bambang, 25 kilometers from the finish line in front of the Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Capitol.

“I crashed and broke my shifters but I felt better after and got a good stage,” Anisimov said. “I didn’t think about the accident. Maybe today is my best finish because the first three stages were not good for me.”

Like the rest of the peloton, he also had to survive scorching heat that reached as high as 45°C.

“Very hot,” he said.

The day also belonged to Shulchenko, who retained the yellow jersey after sticking with the main bunch all the way to the finish, cheered on by an appreciative weekend crowd.

“It was a nice race, easy climb,” said Shulchenko, who now has an aggregate time of 10:59:19 – 49 seconds ahead of Syrian teammate Ibrahiem Alrefai.

Shulchenko vowed to protect the lead as the 14-stage race, presented by Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation and backed by the Manny V. Pangilinan Group of Companies and the Philippine Sports Commission, resumes Sunday with the 135.03-km Stage Five from Santiago City, Isabela to Tuguegarao City.

“I’m still in this. Next stage will be more climb,” he said.

Defending champion Joo Dae Yeong made his move and topped the first two of the three ascents, placing second to Quita on the third, only to fade in the end and finish alone in 40th.

He dropped from 12th in the general classification to 24th, now 3:19 off the pace.

There was little movement in the GC top 10: Go for Gold’s Dave Montemayor (11:01:23), Excellent Noodles’ Sumiso Basalan (11:01:28), 7-Eleven’s Mervin Corpuz (11:01:34) and Antoine Huby (11:01:35), Standard Insurance’s Dave Eeron Cangayao (11:01:35), Quita (11:01:41), Excellent Noodles’ Tyler Douglas Bondoc (11:02:11), and Go for Gold’s Rench Michael Bondoc (11:02:15) all held their spots.