Daily Tribune‘It is a thrilling and exciting time for all cycling enthusiasts and fans all over the country as the Great Revival is now going to happen.’
Riders of Excellent Noodles make their move after saying their prayers at the world-renowned Paoay Church in Ilocos Norte on Wednesday ahead of the opening stage of the Tour of Luzon.
Photograph by Nick Giongco for the Daily Tribune @tribunephl_nick
PAOAY, Ilocos Norte — They are calling it “The Great Revival” and it is easy to understand why.
From its humble origins in 1955, the Tour of Luzon gets resurrected officially Wednesday with the 190.7-kilometer Paoay to Paoay (via Pagudpud) first leg featuring 119 cyclists from 17 teams, including four from overseas.
The 340-year-old Baroque-style San Agustin-Paoay Church, a UNESCO World Heritage, will serve as the main backdrop of the revered race that had to undergo a series of name changes through the years but remains the premiere cycling event in the country.
While the foreign teams could pull off surprises in the eight-leg race, focus will be on the homegrown squads, led by the star-studded Standard Insurance-Navy bannered by a bevy of national team mainstays.
Making up this powerhouse team are Ronald Oranza, George Oconer, Jan Paul Morales, Ronald Lomotos, Junrey Navarra, Jeremy Lizardo and Dave Eeron Cangayao.
To rev up for the initial Ilocos Norte stage, Standard Insurance spent weeks here getting used to the local conditions, according to Reinhard Gorantes, who plays a pivotal role in making sure his team is on point.
In fact, before heading here, they set up camp in Naic, Cavite, and just came from a tournament in Thailand last February.
Patrick Gregorio, whose Duckworld Ph is putting up the race in close coordination with Manny Pangilinan’s Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, can’t wait for the starting to gun.
“We are all excited and thankful, The Tour of Luzon is back. Thank you, MVP (Pangilinan). Thank you MPTC and the MVP Group,” Gregorio said.
“This is for Philippine cycling and for the Filipino people.”
The Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), another entity that is lending a hand in staging this much-awaited road race that will also cover the scenic provinces of Ilocos Sur, La Union, Pangasinan, Pampanga and Benguet, is likewise on cloud nine.
“It is a thrilling and exciting time for all cycling enthusiasts and fans all over the country as the Great Revival is now going to happen,” POC president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino said.
“We are praying for the safety and health of all the riders and all the people involved, especially in this hot weather.”
Tolentino is gushing over the magnitude of the event.
“This is the moment,” he added.
Apart from Standard Insurance, also entered are continental team 7Eleven Cliqq, Go for Gold Cycling Team and Victoria Sports Pro Cycling as well as Korea’s Gapyeong Cycling Team, Malaysia’s Pro Cycling, Taiwan’s Bryton Racing and Hong Kong’s CCN Factory.
On Thursday, Stage 2 will be a 68.3-kilometer team trial from here to Vigan in Ilocos Sur, another UNESCO World Heritage Site famed for its well-preserved houses dating back to the Spanish times.
Stage 3 will run from Vigan to San Juan in La Union, the surfing capital of Luzon that will log 130 kilometers followed by the 162.9-kilometer ride from Agoo to Clark in Tarlac.
Then a 166.65-kilometer Clark-to-Clark stage takes the spotlight before the New Clark City to Lingayen leg that will log 168.1 kilometers in Stage 6.
Pangasinan, home to many great riders of yesteryears, will be the home of the Tour for another full day with the Lingayen to Labrador individual time trial leg covering 15.2 kilometers.
The 172.5-kilometer Stage 8 — the final stage — will be from Lingayen to Baguio City where the coveted Eagle of the Mountain award will be contested.
