The 2026 MPTC Tour of Luzon ended with a climb to Camp John Hay, but the overall result had already been largely shaped long before the final ascent began.
Russian rider Nikita Shulchenko of LCW UAE Cycle arrived at Stage 14 carrying a commanding 3:50 lead in the general classification, a buffer built since he first claimed the yellow jersey back in Stage 3—and one that ultimately proved unbreakable.
Stage 14 itself belonged to Antoine Huby of 7-Eleven, who crossed the line in 4:26:42 after launching a late surge on the brutal Loakan Road climb.
Huby briefly threatened to rewrite the script when he broke away in the final kilometers and trimmed Shulchenko’s advantage, but the deficit entering the day was simply too wide to erase.
Shulchenko responded with controlled resilience rather than panic, finishing second in the stage just behind Huby to secure the overall victory with a total time of 41:11:10.
The LCW UAE rider earned P1 million together with the title, relying on a cautious approach throughout the 173.9-kilometer finale from Lingayen to Baguio that focused on conserving energy rather than taking risks, allowing him to keep the yellow jersey securely until the finish.
Behind the leading duel, Filipino rider Ronnilan Quita delivered a strong performance, finishing third on the stage with a +00:02:58 gap, highlighting a competitive push from the local contingent in one of the race’s most demanding legs.
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A triumphant Nikita Shulchenko lifts his bike after winning the 2026 MPTC Tour of Luzon crown #TourOfLuzon2026 | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/HIw9Y9fxKP
— INQUIRER Sports (@inquirersports) May 13, 2026
Huby, who finished second overall at 1:34 behind Shulchenko, remained reflective after his final-stage win, capturing both the intensity and exhaustion of the race’s closing battle.
“I’m happy to win the last stage, but I’m just tired to win the yellow jersey. I’m sure it was possible, but I know that I was tired to go faster. I did my best,” Huby said.
Further down the standings, Shulchenko’s teammate Yousef Ibraheim Alrefai finished 6:45 back, while MPT Drivehub’s Nash Lim emerged as the top Filipino overall at fourth place, 9:13 behind.
In the team classification, 7-Eleven secured the title and the P2 million cash prize with a total time of 162:25:49, while Go For Gold and LCW UAE trailed by 18:27 and 19:39 respectively, highlighting 7-Eleven’s control throughout the 14-stage race.
The depth of the field was evident in the tightly packed top 10, featuring consistent performances from 7-Eleven, Malaysian National Team, Seoul City Team, and Go for Gold riders.
Shulchenko’s steady defense of yellow secured him the individual crown, while 7-Eleven’s collective strength earned them the team classification title with a cumulative time of 162:25:49, reinforcing their dominance across the 14-stage war of endurance that stretched from Batangas to the Cordilleras.
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