1,075km road cycling Tour of Luzon kicks off in Ilocos Norte
LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) — The Tour of Luzon – an annual professional road bicycle race held every summer since 1955, is officially back on the road, kicking off the multi-stage race in Paoay, Ilocos Norte.
The comeback event called ‘The Great Revival’ is participated in by a total of 119 cyclists from 17 (13 local and four international teams from Taiwan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and South Korea).
During the opening ceremony on Wednesday, Arrey Perez, the tour executive director and chief regulatory officer of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), highlighted that the tour is a celebration of athletic excellence and a testament to the growing support for local cycling.
“We open the MPTC Tour of Luzon 2025 thankful for the dream and the work that has led us all here, thankful to be in the company of like-minded people who see the magnificent potential of Philippine cycling and are tireless in making sure that it’s realized,” he said.
Ilocos Norte Gov. Matthew Marcos Manotoc emphasized that the event supports the province’s vision to become a leading hub for sports development and tourism.
“We have long aspired to become the sports tourism hub of the country in the north. The national dragon boat team used to train here at Paoay Lake, and we want to be the go-to destination north of Manila for any sporting events,” he said.
“I believe that Ilocos Norte is the only province that can offer you a slice of Dubai in the sand dunes of the Philippines [in Paoay and Laoag City], a slice of Boracay in the crown jewel of the North in Saud Beach, and a slice of Baguio in Solsona-Apayao Road. We hope you get to enjoy our province, and I hope you will be able to come back,” Manotoc added.
Tour route
The teams will complete an eight-stage, 1,074.90-kilometer race starting Thursday, April 24, until May 1, 2025.
The first stage will feature a 190.70-kilometer loop that starts and ends in Paoay, with Pagudpud serving as the turning point.
Stage 2 follows with a 68.39-kilometer team time trial from Paoay to Vigan City, Ilocos Sur.
Stage 3 covers 130.33 kilometers from Vigan City to San Juan, La Union, while
Stage 4 stretches 162.97 kilometers from Agoo, La Union to Clark, Pampanga.
Stage 5 is a 166.65-kilometer route within Clark, passing through New Clark City.
Stage 6 continues with a 168.19-kilometer leg from Clark to Lingayen, Pangasinan.
Stage 7 features a short but intense 15.14-kilometer individual time trial from Labrador to Lingayen.
The race culminates in the queen stage, Stage 8, a challenging 172.53-kilometer ride from Lingayen to the finish line at Scout Hill inside Camp John Hay in Baguio City.
Cyclist Julius Tudtud of the Dreyna Orion Cement team expressed his excitement as the Tour of Luzon got underway.
“I’m really happy because I get to visit places I’ve never been to before, all thanks to my bicycle. My goal is to showcase my talent and represent my team,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lu Shao Hsuan, captain of Taiwan’s Bryton Racing Team, shared how they trained and adjusted for the weather difference.
“We prepared for this; we trained every afternoon. Last week, we were dealing with cold weather, so coming here with a completely different climate has been a big adjustment, but we persevere,” he said.
Lastly, Alexander Billan, team owner of participating team Excellent Noodles, lauded the organizers on the revival tour.
“It’s a good thing that there is a revival of the Tour of Luzon. The sponsors have commitment and a vision to have a rider in the Tour de France. With this, I hope that all the cyclists will be inspired and motivated to train more, train hard, so we can join the elite race,” he said.
As the race rolls through North Luzon’s diverse terrain, the tour stands not only as a race but as a symbol of dreams, pushing the boundaries of what the Filipino cycling community can offer and become. (AMB/EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)
