The scenic yet treacherous uphill Kennon Road will play a huge factor in determining the over – all champion when the Tour of Luzon (ToL) hits the road this summer.
With Baguio City, dubbed as the “Queen Stage” which will be the finish in the eight stage bike race, Kennon Road will once again test riders where the “Eagle of the Mountain” will be crowned.
Kicking off on April 24 in Paoay in Ilocos Norte, the ToL concludes in Camp John Hay in Baguio City covering 64 cities and municipalities in six provinces in the Ilocos Region and Central Luzon.
Five and 12 Local squads for a total of 17 teams are set to see action in this year’s ToL 2025, overachieving its slogan “The Great Revival.”
Victorico “Ricky” P. Vargas, Director of the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), expressed elation over the return of the fabled Tour of Luzon – the “Summer Spectacle on Wheels” that featured the most grizzled, strongest and courageous Filipino road cyclists.
“The MVP Group recognizes the vision of this elite multi-stage cycling race,” Vargas told the ToL’s Northern Luzon launch on Friday at the John Hay Hotels (formerly The Manor and Forest Lodge). “We will cut no corners in activating all our resources to make sure its revival is mounted as envisioned—in a manner worthy of the memory and legacy of our dear friend, Bert Lina.”
Lina, founder of top logistics company Air21, was known as the “godfather” of cycling after having first revived the tour in 2002 after a four-year lull when Marlboro couldn’t anymore continue sponsoring the race in 1998 following the strict implementation of anti-tobacco regulations.
Lina passed early this month leaving behind a legacy in business and sports highlighted by his love of cycling that saw the staging of the ToL forerunners Tour of Calabarzon, Golden Tour, Padyak Pinoy and the UCI race Le Tour de Filipinas.
Arrey A. Perez, Executive Director of the ToL and Chief Regulatory Officer of the MPTC—co-organizer of the race with DuckWorld PH—bordered on hailing the Philippine cycling tradition to involving an active immersion of local government units (LGUs) in cycling.
“We are committed to working closely with our regional partners to ensure the quality, safety and vibrancy of the race for all participants and spectators,” Perez said.
The MPTC, DuckWorld PH and Cignal signed a memorandum of agreement during the launch aimed at enhancing collaboration in organizing, promoting and broadcasting the MPTC Tour of Luzon 2025 to bring the fabled cycling race to millions of viewers this summer.
The eight-stage road race will cover a total of 1,085.70 kilometers with iconic and scenic landscapes and tourist destinations that North and Central Luzon have to offer.
For Stage 1, the Paoay Church (San Agustin Church), a heritage sight, will be a fitting and solemn backdrop for the ToL with Pagudpud, a sought-after tourist destination on the tip of Luzon, offering a breath-taking view for the riders racing for the overall team champion and individual general classification winner.
Stages 2 to 7 will feature the sights and feel of the Ilocos Region down to Pangasinan, Tarlac and the challenge route from Clark in Pampanga to the New Clark City in Capas — a stretch of undulating roads marked by the now “Instagrammable” Sacobia River Bridge.
The overall team champion will receive a whopping P1 million plus a year’s possession of the ToL Perpetual Trophy out of a total prize pot of at least P7 million.
The general individual classification winner will bring home P500,000 and the Eagle of the Mountain P100,000.
Cash prizes will also be given to the winners of the Sprint, Best Young Rider (Under-23 or 19 to 22 years old) and Most Combative (one who keeps on attacking every stage but never gets to win).
The top finishers in every stage and intermediate sprints will also be given cash prizes.
THE MPTC Tour of Luzon is not all about elite racing, there’s the Executive and Celebrity Race that would add spice to the “Great Revival,” according to Perez.
“This provides an opportunity for Philippine celebrities, influencers, and leaders who are avid cycling athletes like myself to show their love and support for the sport without the pressure of joining all eight stages,” Perez said. “You all know who you are. Please join the race and be part of history with us.”
There will be four age categories in the combined Executive and Celebrity Race—21- 30 years old, 31-40, 41-50 and 50-above.
Their challenge is to be the fastest in the Criterium and Individual Time Trial races in Clark and the, again undulating, road leading to the New Clark City.
The mechanics and registration for the Executive and Celebrity Race will be formally announced and opened on 26 March 2025 via the official website of the MPTC Tour of Luzon 2025 at https://tourofluzoncycling.com. Roderick Osis
