LCW UAE Cycle gets a second straight stage win in MPTC Tour of Luzon

Ivan Anisimov of the LCW UAE Cycle surged at just the right moment to claim his second consecutive stage victory, narrowly beating Ryan Tugawin of Excellent Noodlers by a mere 0.022 of a second in the Stage 5 of the MPTC Tour of Luzon. 

Both riders were clocked in a tightly contested bunch finish, with Anisimov posting 2:47:26.9 across the 126.7-kilometer largely flat route.

What looked like another routine sprint finish quickly turned into one of the closest endings of the tour so far, underscoring the growing intensity as the race approached its halfway mark.

While Anisimov delivered the finishing blow, the stage itself was shaped by early aggressors. Rustom Lim, El Joshua Carino, and Cpl. Mark Julius Bordeos dictated the tempo during the sprint sections, ensuring the pace never dipped. 

Tugawin, despite falling just short at the line, made his presence felt by dominating the King of the Mountain segment—showing versatility in both climbing and sprinting.

Carino, however, carved out his own spotlight. His efforts in securing the second sprint and finishing runner-up in the mountain climb earned him the most combative rider honors and the red jersey—a testament to his all-around performance and relentless approach.

The overall race picture remains firmly in LCW UAE Cycle’s control. Nikita Shulchenko continues to wear the yellow jersey for the third straight day, maintaining his lead in the general classification with a cumulative time of 13:46:45. 

Anisimov’s back-to-back triumphs have also propelled him to the top of the points classification, where he now dons the green jersey with 32 points—further solidifying the team’s dominance.

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Ivan Anisimov after winning back-to-back stages in the MPTC Tour of Luzon with his Stage 5 triumph here in Tuguegarao #TourOfLuzon2026 @inquirersports pic.twitter.com/t9tbIUo4kd

— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) May 3, 2026

Elsewhere, consistency defines the rest of the jersey holders. Joo Dae Yeong of Gapyeong Cycling Team keeps the polka dot jersey, while Yousef Alrefai retains the white jersey, adding yet another layer of control for LCW in multiple classifications.

In the team standings, Go for Gold Philippines continues to lead the overall general classification with a combined time of 56:15:28. 

Their advantage, however, remains razor-thin—just 11 seconds ahead of 7Eleven Cliqq Roadbike Philippines, with Standard Insurance Philippines still within striking distance in third place.

Notably, all 81 riders remain in contention after Stage 5, setting the stage for what lies ahead as Stage 6 on May 4 promises to test endurance like never before. Covering a grueling 228.8 kilometers from Tuguegarao City to Pagudpud, it stands as the longest leg of this year’s tour.

Stage 6 of the MPTC Tour of Luzon will be the longest of this summer’s cycling spectacle with a 223-kilometer sprint journey from Tuguegarao to Pagudpud #TourOfLuzon2026 @inquirersports pic.twitter.com/DxqTeAkf1q

— Jonas Terrado (@jonasterradoINQ) May 3, 2026

The route offers three sprint zones across the plains of Cagayan before culminating in a decisive King of the Mountain climb at the Ilocos Norte Welcome Arch.

With riders expected to roll out at 8:00 am and cross the finish line at the Pagudpud Town Hall by early afternoon, the stage could redefine the standings—or reinforce the dominance already taking shape.

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