Dennis Gaviola

Article (news)

Tour of Luzon

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1741338328765GlZzYpMbAAAfUIU.jpg" style="width:900px" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil"/>Photo by Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA -- The iconic Tour of Luzon, once considered the toughest road race in Asia, is making a much-anticipated comeback.Organizers announced Friday that the race will again take place starting April 24, and will last for eight days before reaching the climax at Camp John Hay in Baguio City.Pato Gregorio, head of Duckworld PH which is the event’s main organizer, expressed excitement over the race’s return.“Some of the biggest tourism events in the world are sports events, and we believe the Tour of Luzon, known as one of the most grueling road races in Asia, can achieve that level of prestige,” said Gregorio.It will kick off along the coastline in Ilocos Norte and will pass through Vigan in Ilocos Sur, Agoo in La Union, Clark in Pampanga, and Lingayen in Pangasinan.First held in 1955 and last staged in 2010, its return has been warmly welcomed by the cycling and sports community.Since the announcement, over 15 teams, including international squads from Singapore, Indonesia, and Thailand, have expressed interest in joining.This year’s edition will feature a maximum of 20 teams with 150 to 200 riders. The winning team will take home a grand prize of P1 million, while the individual champion will receive P500,000.Filipino riders from 12 local-based teams have already confirmed their participation.In addition to the overall championship, there will be special awards for stage winners: Sprint King, Best Young Rider, King of the Mountain, and more.Gregorio shared that business tycoon Manny Pangilinan immediately supported the revival, citing his dream of “one day seeing a Filipino team in the Tour de France.”Metro Pacific Tollways Corp.’s chief regulatory officer Arrey Perez also reaffirmed their commitment to supporting the historic event: “We will do everything to ensure the Tour of Luzon is safe, successful, and enjoyable for both participants and fans.”As an additional challenge, PhilCycling president Bambol Tolentino announced a Baguio-to-Tagaytay race exclusively for the top 30 finishers of the Tour of Luzon. This special event, to be held in May this year, will offer P1.5 million in cash prizes.Tour organizer Jun Lumibao shared that many more foreign teams have shown interest in joining, though participation will be limited this year, with plans to expand the event in the future.“Riders can expect breathtaking routes, including the stunning coastline of Region 1 and the scenic Clark area. But the highlight will undoubtedly be the Lingayen-Baguio stage — a brutal 178-kilometer test of endurance,” Lumibao said.

The iconic Tour of Luzon, once considered the toughest road race in Asia, is making a much-anticipated comeback.

The iconic Tour of Luzon, once considered the toughest road race in Asia, is making a much-anticipated comeback.

Iconic multi-stage cycling event Tour of Luzon returns this April

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Iconic multi-stage cycling event Tour of Luzon returns this April

Dyan Castillejo,

ABS-CBN News

Published March 07, 2025 05:30 PM PHT

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Tour of Luzon

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