Joo, SIP pocket biggest ToL prizes

Joo Dae Yeung cornered more than P1 million as the individual classification champion while Standard Insurance Philippines (SIP) banked the most in the team category with P1.63 million from the Tour of Luzon (ToL) 2025’s total cash pot that sports patron Manuel Pangilinan (MVP) made juicier by raising the bar to more than P7 million.

Joo brought home a total of P1,022,00 counting the cash he collected in Stage 1 where he clinched the Yellow, Most Combative and Sprint jerseys in the eight-stage race presented by the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. and organized by DuckWorld PH.

MPT DriveHub (MPTD) hoisted the ToL Perpetual Trophy with a P1 million prize but it was SIP of team principal Ernesto “Judes” Echauz which had the biggest stash underscored by the P500,000 that Jan Paul Morales earned after finishing a mere six seconds behind Joo in the race for individual honors.

“Saying that they smiled their way to the bank isn’t the right phrase for the cyclists in this Great Revival,” said DuckWorld PH chairman Patrick “Pató” Gregorio.

“The cyclists and the teams didn’t have to wait long to receive their cash prizes.”

Indeed, all 119 riders who started for the 17 teams in Stage 1 in Paoay last April 2024 were all smiles on the night of Labor Day as the MPTC and DuckWorld PH disbursed all P7,031,500 in prizes in cold cash right after the closing ceremony at the Camp John Hay Convention Center.

“A big night for everyone after the sacrifices and hard work they poured in each of the eight stages of the Tour of Luzon,” said Arrey Perez, ToL’s executive director who is also the MPTC’s chief regulatory officer.

It was one night to remember for each of the 400-strong ToL entourage — from a memorable opening night on the holy grounds of the world heritage site Paoay (San Agustin) Church to the celebratory closing ceremony made festive by an electrifying performance by Ben&Ben.