Czar of Luzon: Nikita Shulchenko officially claims Tour crown

Nikita Shulchenko is the MPTC Tour of Luzon champion. –JONAS TERRADO

BAGUIO—Nikita Shulchenko admitted he felt the pressure when Antoine Huby launched a desperate attack that won the final stage of the MPTC Tour of Luzon on Wednesday here.

But the Russian rider of Filipino-owned LCW UAE Cycle had built enough of a cushion to withstand Huby’s late charge and secure the title in this year’s revival of the country’s premier cycling race, which he had controlled almost from the start.

READ: Tour of Luzon: Nikita Shulchenko seals overall title in Baguio

“Yes, it was very dangerous,” Shulchenko said after emerging as the newest champion of the summer cycling spectacle with an aggregate time of 41 hours, 11 minutes and 10 seconds.

“But I had a [big] gap [going into the last stage],” he added.

The 26-year-old held off the French rider from 7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines by one minute and 34 seconds to pocket the P1 million prize and, perhaps, earn lasting recognition among Filipino cycling fans who had hoped a local rider would repel the foreign challenge.

Shulchenko also earned himself a neat early birthday gift ahead of his 27th birthday on May 31—even if he will have little time to celebrate.

Back home in Russia, Shulchenko said the calendar quickly shifts to more multistage races at this time of year, leaving little opportunity to savor a conquest that saw him dominate the Philippines’ great cycling odyssey.

Nikita Shukchenco at the finish line during Stage 14 of the MPTC Tour of Luzon. –CONTRIBUTED PHoTO

“In Russia, we have to do multi-stage races at this time of the year, so there’s plenty of work to do,” he said after completing the two-week test of speed and endurance that covered 1,825.10 kilometers across 13 provinces.

Shulchenko stamped his authority on the race with a victory in the Stage 7 individual time trial in Pagudpud, while adding five runner-up finishes along the way.

He first donned the symbolic yellow jersey after Stage 3, wresting it from Syrian teammate Ibrahiem Alrefai—whom he had allowed to win the opening stage in Tagaytay—and never surrendered it again.

The early threats came from the Filipino contingent, particularly the brash crowd favorite Mervin Corpuz and fellow 7-Eleven standout Ronnilan Quita.

But as the race entered its decisive stretch, Huby emerged as Shulchenko’s biggest danger.

Lead too big

Nikita Shulchenko receives his trophy and P1 million as winner of the 2026 MPTC Tour of Luzon during the closing ceremonies here in Baguio #TourOfLuzon2026 | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/pufahTfZhL

— INQUIRER Sports (@inquirersports) May 13, 2026

The former UCI World Tour rider captured the punishing Stage 10 and Stage 12 climbs at Bessang Pass in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur, and Daang Kalikasan in Mangatarem, Pangasinan, slicing the overall deficit to just 2 minutes and 30 seconds.

Still, Shulchenko responded when it mattered most.

He finished second in the second individual time trial in Lingayen while Huby could do no better than 13th, allowing the Russian to widen his lead to 3:50 heading into the final ascent through Kennon Road toward Baguio City.

Antoine Huby is the Stage 14 winner, but not enough to beat Nikita Shulchenko, who is the 2026 MPTC Tour of Luzon champion #TourOfLuzon2026 | @jonasterradoINQ pic.twitter.com/1H6fHDJepr

— INQUIRER Sports (@inquirersports) May 13, 2026

That advantage proved too large to erase, even as Huby ended the Tour with three stage victories—the most by any rider.

The Frenchman made one final gamble after passing the iconic Lion’s Head marker with 15 km remaining, breaking clear on the climb toward Camp John Hay.

Huby completed the grueling 181.8-km stage from Lingayen to Camp John Hay in 4:26:42, but his bid to steal the yellow jersey ultimately fell short when Shulchenko crossed the line 2:12 later.

“I’m happy to finish second, but the objective was to get the yellow jersey,” Huby said. “But I did my best.”

As consolation, Huby secured the Eagle of the Mountain title as the Tour’s best climber.

Alrefai wound up third overall, 6:45 behind his teammate, while MPT DriveHub’s Nash Lim finished fourth at 9:13, emerging as the top Filipino rider after a late surge in the standings.

Quita placed fifth overall, 10:34 off the lead, after arguably delivering the most consistent campaign among the local riders.