Baguio climb settles all

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan , Philippines – The MPTC Tour of Luzon heads into its decisive final stage today, with the race for ultimate glory coming down to the brutal mountain passes of Baguio.

After 13 grueling stages covering 1,539.4 kilometers, the fight for overall championship rests between jersey holder Nikita Shulchenko of LCW UAE and closest pursuer Antoine Huby of 7-Eleven.

It’s a showdown between a sprint specialist against a mountain climber.

Shulchenko should be the favorite, having reclaimed the time lost in the Agoo-Mangatarem Stage 12 to Huby by placing second behind Stage 13 winner Min Kyeong Ho of Seoul at the Pangasinan Baywalk fronting the historic Lingayen Gulf.

Min, a 29-year-old four-time Asian champion, blazed through humidity, slippery terrain and strong head winds in ruling the 20-km Individual Time Trial in 25 minutes and 39 seconds, 22 seconds ahead of Shulchenko and 30 seconds faster than Excellent Noodles’ Joseph Javiniar.

It was the second stage triumph for Min, who ruled the punishing Tuguegarao-Pagudpud Stage 6 on May 4. In the earlier ITT in Pagudpud, he placed third in the stage topped by Shulchenko.

“I was a little bit tired in Stage 7 (Pagudpud ITT) but I was fresh today (yesterday) and had confidence and determination,” said Min, using this race as part of his preparation for the Asian Championship and the Asian Games this year.

With an aggregate time of 36:42:22, Shulchenko enjoys a lead of three minutes and 50 seconds over Huby in their Baguio battle ending at Camp John Hay.

The Baguio climb separates Shulchenko from the crown. But Huby will be there – the 25-year-old former French national juniors and U-23 champion who had beaten Shulchenko twice in two savage climbs – the first in Bessang Pass in Stage 10 and the Daang Kalikasan in Stage 12.

But Shulchenko said he’s not leaving any stone unturned.

“I’m not relaxing,” he said.

Huby isn’t promising the moon but has thrown caution to the wind, vowing to go all out to steal the championship.

The rest of the top 10, headed by No. 3 Ibrahiem Alrefai of LCW UAE, could be battling for crumbs.