Tour de Filipinas

The Le Tour de Filipinas is an annual professional road bicycle racing stage race held in Luzon, Philippines since 1955 as part of the UCI Asia Tour. It is held in April every year. While the course changes every year, the tour traditionally ends at Rizal Park, Manila, although recently the tour has ended in Baguio after being licensed by the UCI. Its previous names included the Tour of Luzon, Marlboro Tour, Tour of Calabarzon, Tour Pilipinas and Padyak Pinoy, before carrying the current name.

Le Tour de Filipinas
Race details
RegionPhilippines
English nameTour of the Philippines
Local name(s)Tour ng Pilipinas
DisciplineRoad
CompetitionUCI Asia Tour 2.2
TypeStage race
OrganiserIntegrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines
Web sitewww.letourdefilipinas.com
History
First edition1955 (as Tour of Luzon)
First winner Antonio Arzala (PHI)
Most wins Antonio Arzala (PHI) (3 wins)
Most recent Jeroen Meijers (NED)

History

1955 – 1976: Tour of Luzon

In 1955, the Tour was launched as a four-stage race from Manila to Vigan race won by Antonio Arzala. But, a year later, the race was renamed as the Tour of Luzon and carried the name until 1976 (there was no tour held in 1968, 1970–1972).

The prominent riders included two-time Tour champions Cornelio Padilla, Jr. of Central Luzon and Jose Sumalde of Bicol. However, in 1977, a rift within the PCAP (see below) led to a split of two tours during the said year. However, according to the Padyak Pinoy website, the event organized by Geruncio Lacuesta is recognized on their official list. The tour's name ended by 1978 as Marlboro entered the scene.

1979 – 1998: Marlboro Tour

By 1979, Marlboro became the official sponsor of the tour and the event was named as Marlboro Tour, a name that is commonly familiar to ardent racers and fans. During these times, the tour expanded its routes, by including cities from Visayas in the leg, with the final laps regularly held at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.

From 1997-1998, the tour allowed riders from Asia to compete in the event and was sanctioned by the UCI. It also led to Wong Kam-po of Hong Kong to become the first non-Filipino to win the event in 1997, after overtaking 1996 winner Victor Espiritu for the lead in the latter stages.

The format used for the teams are based on provinces with the national team included in the race. It was also the same format when Asian riders participated in the event beginning in 1997.

1999 – 2001: End of Marlboro Tour

In 1999, Marlboro backed out as sponsor which proved to be a devastating blow to the organizers. The tour lost about a possible 60-million pesos to finance the tour. With this, there was no tour held from 1999-2001. To compensate the loss of the so-called "Summer Cycling Spectacle", other groups formed mini-races during the summer.

A law was passed banning cigarette brands advertisements on TV, radio or any form like sport events like The Marlboro Tour.

2002 – Recent years

In 2002, the tour was revived after Airfreight 2100 of Bert Lina and Lito Alvarez financed the tour. A four-leg race was held in late-May known as Tour of CALABARZON won by Santy Barnachea. A year later, the tour was renamed as Tour Pilipinas, and held a 17-leg race, the longest since 1998. The tour was won by Arnel Quirimit of Pangasinan.

Ryan Tanguilig won in 2004 in a 10-stage tour. In 2005, the tour was renamed as the Golden Tour 50 @ 05, honoring the 50th anniversary of the Tour. 1998 champion Warren Davadilla, who won the last edition of the Marlboro, was the champion. In 2006, several disputes within the Integrated Cycling Federation of the Philippines led to a short eight stage event dubbed with the current Padyak Pinoy name, won by Barnachea.

Its current corporate sponsor is Airfreight 2100, the official brand-carrier of FedEx and Air21, thru the UBE Media, Inc. (producers of the TV program Panahon.TV), who has founded the tour since 2002. From 1979-1998, Marlboro was the carrying sponsor of the tour before backing out of the tour, resulting in the tour's stoppage for the next three years.

Stages

Marlboro Tour days

These were the stages in 1996:

  1. Davao City to Carmen, Davao del Norte
  2. Tagum, Davao del Norte to Butuan
  3. Butuan to Cagayan de Oro
  4. Cebu City to Cebu City (individual time trial)
  5. Cebu City to Cebu City via Santander
  6. Dumaguete to Bacolod
  7. Iloilo City to Iloilo City via Pototan, Iloilo (team time trial)
  8. Iloilo City to Iloilo City via San Jose de Buenavista, Antique
  9. Pasay to Lucena
  10. Lucena to Marikina
  11. Marikina to Olongapo
  12. Olongapo to Alaminos, Pangasinan
  13. Alaminos, Pangasinan to San Jose, Nueva Ecija
  14. San Jose, Nueva Ecija to Banaue, Ifugao
  15. Banaue, Ifugao to Tuguegarao, Cagayan
  16. Tuguegarao, Cagayan to Vigan, Ilocos Sur
  17. Vigan, Ilocos Sur to Baguio
  18. Rosario, La Union to Baguio (individual time trial)
  19. Baguio to Baguio

Le Tour de Filipinas days

These were the stages in 2019:

  1. Tagaytay, Cavite to Tagaytay, Cavite via Lemery, Batangas
  2. Pagbilao, Quezon to Daet, Camarines Norte
  3. Daet, Camarines Norte to Legazpi, Albay
  4. Legazpi, Albay to Legazpi, Albay via Sorsogon City
  5. Legazpi, Albay to Legazpi, Albay via Donsol, Sorsogon

Past winners

Tour of Luzon
YearDateStagesDistanceWinnerTime
1955[1]28 April–1 May4418 km Antonio Arzala (PHI)
195623–27 May51,057 km Antonio Arzala (PHI)33:45:08
195728 May–7 June61,155 km Rufino Gabot (PHI)51:45:22
195814–20 April71,517 km Mamerto Eden (PHI)61:14:08
195912–19 April81,634 km Antonio Arzala (PHI)59:44:50
196014–22 May91,648 km Rodrigo Abaquita (PHI)57:51:02
196125 April–7 May122,167 km Jose Moring Jr. (PHI)59:44:50
196226 March–8 April121,870.23 km Edmundo De Guzman (PHI)61:04:50
196321 April–5 May142,334.38 km Gonzalo Recodos (PHI)78:27:54
196419 April–3 May141,967.60 km Jose Sumalde (PHI)60:22:09
196525 April–9 May142,049.31 km Jose Sumalde (PHI)65:13:19
196623 April–8 May151,999.82 km Cornelio Padilla (PHI)60:45:31
196712–19 April81,634 km Cornelio Padilla (PHI)70:34:57
1968Cancelled
1969[2]18–27 April101,208.40 km Domingo Quilban (PHI)37:50:29
1970–1972Cancelled
197311–20 May101,214 km Jesus Garcia Jr. (PHI)34:38:38
1974[3]23 April–12 May182,540.95 km Teodorico Rimarim (PHI)78:35:19
197519 April–4 May152,207.87 km Samson Etrata (PHI)66:18:48
197621 April–9 May62,200 km Modesto Bonzo (PHI)66:31:10

Tour of the Philippines
YearNameDateStagesDistanceWinnerTime
1977 [4]Tour ng Pilipinas2 May–5 June244,000 km Manuel Reynante (PHI)106:57:20
Marlboro Tour ng Pilipinas[5]7–26 June31,697 km Jesus Garcia Jr. (PHI)55:37:52
1978Perk Speed Tour[6]9–12 February4405.8 km Rumin Salamante (PHI)10:11:10
1979Marlboro Tour18–30 April111,900 km Paquito Rivas (PHI)60:01:06
1980Tour of the Philippines15 April–11 May212,780.83 km Manuel Reynante (PHI)83:08:00
1981Tour of the Philippines17 March–12 April213,058.81 km Jacinto Sicam (PHI)87:25:43

Marlboro Tour
YearNameDateStagesDistanceWinnerTime
1982Marlboro Tour22 April–9 May152,192 km Jacinto Sicam (PHI)61:29:17
1983Marlboro Tour16 April–1 May142,313.11 km Romeo Bonzo (PHI)63:54:31
1984Marlboro Tour26 May–10 June142,464 km Ruben Carino (PHI)68:08:49
1985Marlboro Tour18 April–12 May213,668.97 km Pepito Calip (PHI)97:04:42
1986Marlboro Tour26 April–11 May102,900.77 km Malick Ross Almonite (PHI)77:39:53
1987Marlboro Tour21 May–7 June173,282 km Reynaldo Dequito (PHI)88:06:50
1988Marlboro Tour28 April–15 May173,544.53 km Armando Catalan (PHI)94:44:03
1989Marlboro Tour26 April–14 May183,539.47 km Gerardo Igos (PHI)95:40:23
1990Marlboro Tour18 April–6 May183,317.42 km Manuel Buenaventura (PHI)95:58:38
1991Marlboro Tour25 April–12 May172,373.61 km Bernardo Llentada (PHI)63:33:17
1992Marlboro Tour21 May–7 June172,731.38 km Renato Dolosa (PHI)71:21:49
1993Marlboro Tour17 April–9 May213,480 km Carlo Guieb (PHI)91:41:54
1994Marlboro Tour17 April–9 May203,563 km Carlo Guieb (PHI)91:24:13
1995Marlboro Tour18 March–8 April193,280.33 km Renato Dolosa (PHI)83:43:39
1996Marlboro Tour14 April–5 May193,257.29 km Victor Espiritu (PHI)80:50:46
1997Marlboro Tour[7]16 April–4 May162,472 km Wong Kam-po (HKG)62:06:28
1998Marlboro Centennial Tour15 April–3 May162,494 km Warren Davadilla (PHI)64:58:57
1999–2001Cancelled


Le Tour de Pilipinas / Padyak Pinoy / FedEx/Air21 Tour
YearNameDateStagesDistanceWinnerTime
2002FedEx Tour of CALABARZON30 May–2 June4517.7 km Santi Barnachea (PHI)12:41:13
2003Air21 Tour Pilipinas16 April–11 May152,849.8 km Arnel Quirimit (PHI)55:29:20
2004Air21 Tour Pilipinas15 April–2 May172,849.8 km Rhyan Tanguilig (PHI)70:28:59
2005Golden Tour 50@0526 May–5 June101,492 km Warren Davadilla (PHI)37:20:55
2006Padyak Pinoy Tour Pilipinas12–18 May81,219.4 km Santi Barnachea (PHI)31:10:03
2007Padyak Pinoy17–29 May101,500 km Victor Espiritu (PHI)33:02:38
2008Cancelled
2009Padyak Pinoy Tour of Champions8–15 May81,070 km Joel Calderon (PHI)29:52:33
2010Le Tour de Filipinas12–20 April4468.8 km David McCann (IRL)[8]11:29:20
2011Le Tour de Filipinas16–19 April4468.8 km Rahim Emami (IRI)12:15:34
2012Le Tour de Filipinas14–17 April4502 km Baler Ravina[9] (PHI)13:20:32
2013Le Tour de Filipinas13–16 April4616 km Ghader Mizbani (IRI)16:38:37
2014Le Tour de Filipinas21–24 April4614.8 km Mark Galedo (PHI)17:12:05
2015Le Tour de Filipinas1–4 February[10]4532.5 km Thomas Lebas (FRA)13:40:49
2016Le Tour de Filipinas18–21 February[11]4691 km Oleg Zemlyakov (KAZ)[12] 17:36:23
2017Le Tour de Filipinas18–21 February4726.55 km Jai Crawford (AUS)17:33:07
2018 Le Tour de Filipinas 20–23 May 4 638.37 km  El Joshua Cariño (PHI) 12:25:23
2019 Le Tour de Filipinas 14–18 June 5 822.3 km  Jeroen Meijers (NED) 20:38:07
2020 Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021
2022
2023

In the 2016 edition, race organizers had to stop the stage 1 event due to unprecedented road repairs, followed by traffic jams in Tiaong, Quezon, the first in the history of Le Tour de Filipinas.[13]

Jerseys

Like other bicycle rices, the Tour also hands out specific jerseys:[14]

  • Yellow: General classification
  • Purple: Best Filipino rider
  • Green: Best sprinter
  • Red polka dot: Best climber
  • White: Young rider

Notes
  1. Manila–Vigan Bicycle Race
  2. Tour ng Filipinas
  3. Tour of Luzon–Visayas
  4. There were two Tours held in 1977. The Tour ng Pilipinas was won by Manuel Reynante.
  5. Staged by the Geruncio Lacuesta, acknowledged father of Philippine bikathoning, after a split among the cyclists and the formation of the Professional Cycling Association of the Philippines (PCAP) with Matias Defensor as president. Garcia won the Mindanao stage, Casta the Visayas stage and Gorospe the Luzon stage. It was Lacuesta's last tour as the PCAP took over center stage two years later in 1979. This tour is considered official by the current organization.
  6. No regular tour held; instead the perk speed tour was run Feb. 9-12 over four laps aimed at producing the first cyclist(s) to achieve an average 40 km/h. Starting in Manila and winding up in Olongapo City, the speed test measured 405.8 km.s. Rumin Salamante won the event in 10 hrs. 11 mins., 10 secs.
  7. In 1997, the Tour allowed cyclists from the neighboring Asian countries to participate in the event. Wong became the first foreign cyclist to win the event. Asian riders were allowed to participate in 1998.
  8. David McCann is the first European cyclist to win the Tour. Non-Asian riders were allowed to participate in 2010.
  9. Baler Ravina was the first Filipino overall winner in Le Tour de Filipina that was sanctioned by UCI.
  10. "13 continental teams, two national squads vie for honors in le Tour de Filipinas".
  11. "2016 Le Tour kicks off Feb. 18". Philippine Daily Inquirer. 12 January 2016. Retrieved 13 January 2016.
  12. Lagunzad, Jerome (February 21, 2016). "Young Kazakh rider earns spurs in Le Tour". Fox Sports Asia. Retrieved February 21, 2016.
  13. "Road repairs ruin Le Tour's kick-off leg". Manila Bulletin. February 18, 2016. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  14. Corp., ABS-CBN. "Le Tour de Filipinas: Oranza wins chaos-free Stage 2". ABS-CBN SPORTS. Retrieved 2018-06-01.
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