CLARK, Pampanga. — The pot just got sweeter.
Cyclists muscling their way in the MPTC Tour of Luzon got a handsome surprise from Tour executive chairman of the board and MPTC chairman Manny V. Pangilinan, who announced he will increase the prize money in the “Great Revival” from his own pocket.
“May nanonood sa atin. Araw-araw. He watches every day through livestream and videos. He makes comments and suggestions. In fact, he was the one who finalized the Tour,” Tour of Luzon executive director and MPTC chief regulatory officer Arrey Perez said Monday evening during the Media and VIP Night at the grand ballroom of the stylish Hilton Clark Sun Valley Resort here.
“We received a call from the chairman of the MVP Group and he said he wants to add his personal money to the top 10 individual winner’s prize. Nagdagdag po si MVP from the fourth up to the 10th place,” he added.
Pangilinan, one of the country’s staunchest sports backers, will make the overall individual champion P1 million richer from the original P5000,000.
The bridesmaid’s pocket will be heftier by 100,000, from the supposed cash incentive of P400,000 to P500,000.
The third placer will get P350,000 from P300,000.
The eight-stage, 1,074.90-kilometer race’s sixth leg unfolded Tuesday here to the Pangasinan capital of Lingayen.
Stage 7 will be the bike tilt’s individual time trial covering a 15.2 km lap from Lingayen to nearly Labrador town Wednesday in the race presented by DuckWorld PH and Cignal.
All roads then lead to the queen stage—a punishing 177.54-km battle from Lingayen to Baguio in the eighth and final leg on Thursday.
Perez fired a big challenge to the 16 teams trying with all their might to prove they have what it takes in the comeback of the prestigious summer cycling extravaganza that is also backed by Pilipinas Live, Meralco, Maynilad, Metro Pacific Health, Megaworld, Landco, PLDT and Smart.
The Tour has the endorsement of the Philippine Olympic Committee, Philippine Sports Commission, Games and Amusements Board, BCDA and MVP Sports Foundation.
“To all the teams, banat na. Galingan ninyo. To all the team managers, you have your own strategies. You are strategizing for your teams in individual stages,” he said. “I’m sure because of this announcement, you will change your strategies. I don’t know how. But you are the experts. I know you will change your strategy because of these bigger prizes.
“Thank you, MVP. We know that you very much love cycling. Thank you for helping the cyclists. Malaking bagay po ito para sa kanila and to all the teams, encourage your cyclists to really perform and also to the foreign teams, go out and do well.”
The winning riders will get the chance to tour Luzon—or even the whole country in a vacation and not a competition—if they take care of business.
