PAOAY, Ilocos Norte. — Fame and fortune.
Those are just some of the gains the winners of the returning Tour of Luzon should expect, plus the bragging rights of emerging as the best riders after eight grueling stages across seven provinces in Northern and Central Luzon.
Philippine Olympic Committee President and sanctioning PhilCycling chief Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino is convinced the revival of the Tour will stamp a big mark.
“Prestige. Aside from being the first winners of ‘The Great Revival,’ iyong prizes. It’s big and definitely, ini-enroll na namin so para maging calendar na ng UCI races,” Tolentino said. “Talagang nakaka-inspire ito. Aside from the National Open, aside from the other tours, nabuhay ang Tour of Luzon.
“Maraming nagbabantay na nakaka-relate pa. Iyong mga bata ngayon hindi na nakaka-relate so iyong mga 50 years old and up nakaka-relate sa Tour of Luzon. Actually, iyong iba naman, nakaabot pa, iyong 40 up kasi nga nagkaroon ng LeTour. Ito lang naman before pandemic natigil,” he added.
The storied cycling summer spectacle rolled off the road Thursday with the 190.70-km Stage 1 that began and finished in front of the historic Paoay Church here.
A 2019 Ronda Pilipinas veteran who wound up sixth in the general classification, South Korean Dae Yeong Joo of the Gapyeong Cycling Team, shone anew in his return to Philippine soil by ruling the opening leg, checking in at four hours, 12 minutes and 45 seconds to don the yellow jersey.
Standard Insurance Philippines’ Ronald Oranza finished second with a time of four minutes and 32 seconds while Aidan James Mendoza of Go For Gold Cycling Team ended third (4:40).
The 68.39km Stage 2 (team time trial) gets going Friday from Paoay to Vigan City.
Tolentino, the architect of the country’s three-gold medal haul in the 2021 Tokyo Games and last year’s Paris Olympics, said “The Great Revival” will have no bearing on the Philippines’ campaign in the Bangkok Southeast Asian Games in December this year or other international tournaments.
“Siguro hindi muna puwedeng maging basehan ito. Whatever the results will be kasi nagkaroon na tayo ng National Open. Parang tryout na iyon so hindi puwede,” the hardworking sports official said. “Well, after this, kung sino iyong lumabas then pag-aagawan na lang iyon kung paano sila papasok or what next, if there will be another event again before the Asian games.
“For Bangkok SEA Games, baka hindi muna. Para hindi unfair doon sa mga nag-tryout sa National Open.”
Every Filipino rider dreams of winning it all in the Tour. The hopefuls this summer now have the chance to do it and, in the future, carry the Philippines’ colors overseas.
