Seven-day Tour of Luzon hits road

MANILA, Philippines - The wheels of fortune start to grind today as battle-hungry Filipino cyclists hit the road in the Liquigaz-LPGMA Tour of Luzon starting with the grueling Manila-Lucena leg at the Quezon City Memorial Circle.

Ninety cyclists, who went through the rigors of elimination for inclusion in the 10 commercial teams, will race it out for the cash prize worth P2 million in this seven-day revival of the fabled tour.

Two-time Tour winner Warren Davadilla of Regasco and former Tour champions Arnel Quirimit of Happy Nuts, Rhyan Tanguilig of Team Liquigaz/LPGMA and Santy Barnachea of Mobile Wonders are among the notable names leading the cast.

Also vying for top honors are Lloyd Reynante of American Vinyl, Merculio Ramos of My Photos, Baler Ravina of Team Tagaytay, Dante Cagas of 7-11/Road Bike Philippines, Jose Calderon of DPT Law and Oscar Rendole of GeoEstate/The Beacon.

Organized by Liquigaz and Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers Association, the tour will put the toughened riders through punishing routes from Manila, Lucena, Tagaytay, Marikina, Cabanatuan to high-altitude Baguio before the final ride in Manila through the Macapagal Highway in Parañaque.

The last time the Tour was held was two years ago before race organizers begged off.

LPGMA president Arnel Ty along with Tagaytay City Mayor Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, Sen. Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Quezon City congresswoman Nanette Castelo-Daza and QC Councilor Winnie Castelo will grace the brief rites at the QC Circle.

Liquigaz is a subsidiary of SHV Gas of the Netherlands, which owns a team in the Tour de France and is the world leader in the distribution of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

On Day 2, the cyclists will negotiate the hilly terrain from Lucena City to Tagaytay City, after which the Tour makes its way to Marikina City.

The Philippine Cycling Association of the Philippines headed by Paquito Rivas will manage the event supported by Tour of Luzon Bike and Cafe, the official bike supplier managed by two-time Tour champion Renato Dolosa.

Cabanatuan will be the next stop of the Tour from Marikina City. From Cabanatuan, the riders will pedal uphill to Baguio City and try to conquer the demanding Baguio-Baguio stage the following day.

Liquigaz and LPGMA have also organized a side event where executive riders compete in a separate race from Agoo, La Union to Baguio City.

The executive riders will also test themselves in the Baguio stage before seeing action in the victory lap on Macapagal Highway in Pasay City. – Joey Villar