JOO RIDES INTO TOUR GLORY

BAGUIO-At high noon before a big crowd lining the final climb to Camp John Hay, South Korean Joo Dae Yeong completed his triumphant journey in the MPTC Tour of Luzon:

- BY JOEY VILLAR

Great Revival, repelling the last stand of the home bets and riding into immortality in the fabled cycling saga yesterday.

With a busted tire and all, Joo summoned all he needed to defend the yellow jersey, traversing the 177.54km eighth and final stage from Lingayen with a clocking enough to hoist the crown at the end of the eight-day battle with time, elements and worthy challengers.

Unheralded Joshua Pascual of Excellent Noodles took the King of the Mountain honors but there's no stopping the Gapyeong Cycling Team skipper from claiming the biggest prize and the cash pot of P1 million from MVP Group of Companies chairman Manny V. Pangilinan.

Joo did enough in the killer Baguio ascent where he finished 22nd in the lap won by Pascual in four hours, 16 minutes and four seconds. The Korean came in five minutes and 17 seconds off the stage winner.