Photo: Tour of Luzon/Facebook

By Nate Castillo

Syrian Yousef Ibraheim Alrefai and LCW UAE Cycling Team teammate Nikita Shulchenko made their presence felt with a 1-2 finish in Stage 1 of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) Tour of Luzon 2026 on Wednesday.

The 19-year-old Alrefai took the top podium in the 150.1-kilometer opening stage that started in Calatagan, Batangas and ended in the breezy Tagaytay City.

Both riders held hands as they approached the finish line at the landmark Tagaytay City Praying Hands, with Alrefai winning in three hours, 36 minutes and 35 seconds, excluding a 10-second bonus for winning the stage.

The 26-year-old Shulchenko logged the same time as Alrefai.

Photo: Tour of Luzon/Facebook

Alrefai will wear the symbolic yellow jersey in the time trial Stage 2, a 43-kilometer race starting from Clark, Pampanga to New Clark City in Capas, Tarlac. 

“We were chasing the best riders as we made it. When we started the climb, we got to the front. He (Shulchenko) helped me,” Alrefai said.

“I didn't know I had a chance to win until the last five kilometers,” he added.

Alrefai and Shulchenko caught up with Korean defending champion Joo Dae Yeongo of Gapyeong Cycling Team, who made a solo breakaway after forming an early three-man lead pack. Joo slowly faded in the second climb in Calaca town.

British cyclist Tyler Douglas Hannay of local squad Excellent Noodles, crossed the line at third place, trailing behind by one minute and 56 seconds.

Joo wound up 15th overall, falling 2:10 behind.

Meanwhile, Go for Gold ruled the team general classification with a 14:34:32 clocking.

Excellent Noodles Cycling Team came in second, 14 seconds behind, while Standard Insurance Philippines was 28 seconds off the lead in third.