- Le Tour de Filipinas
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Le Tour de Filipinas Race details Date mid April-early May Region Luzon English name Tour of the Philippines Local name(s) Padyak Pinoy Discipline Road Type Stage race History First edition 1955 Editions 46 (as of 2008) First winner 
Antonio Arzala (PHI)Most wins Antonio Arzala (PHI)Most recent 
Rahim Emami (IRI)Le Tour de Filipinas or the Tour of the Philippines, is the official title of a bicycle tour held during the hot and dry season (April–May) in the Philippines.
Its previous names included the Tour of Luzon, Marlboro Tour, Tour of Calabarzon (2002), Tour Pilipinas and Padyak Pinoy, before carrying the current name.
Its current corporate sponsor is Airfreight 2100, the official brand-carrier of FedEx and Air21, who has funded 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.
While the course changes every year, the tour traditionally ends at Rizal Park, Manila.
Contents
History
Tour of Luzon: 1955-1976
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).
Among the prominent riders include Pangasinan riders Cornelio Padilla, Jr., Jess Garcia, who were two-time Tour champions along with Jose Sumalde of Catanduanes.
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 [1], the event organized by Geruncio Lacuesta is recognized on their official list.
The tour's name ended by 1978 as Marlboro entered the scene.
Marlboro Tour: 1979-1998
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.
End of Marlboro Tour: 1999-2001
In 1999, Marlboro backed out as sponsor which proved to be a devastating blow to the organizers. According to news articles such as this [2], 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.
Airfreight 2100 as backer: 2002-Present
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 National Cycling Association led to a short eight stage event dubbed with the current Padyak Pinoy name, won by Barnachea.
Champions of the Tour
Tour of Luzon
Year Name Duration Laps/Stages Distance Champion Time 1955 Manila to Vigan Bicycle Race April 28-May 1, 1955 4 Laps 418 km Antonio Arzala 1956 Tour of Luzon May 23–27, 1956 5 Laps 1,057 km. Antonio Arzala 33:45:08 1957 Tour of Luzon May 28-June 7, 1957 6 Laps 1, 155 km. Rufino Gabot 51:45:22 1958 Tour of Luzon April 14–20, 1958 7 Laps 1,517 km. Mamerto Eden 61:14:08 1959 Tour of Luzon April 12–19, 1959 8 Laps 1,634 km. Antonio Arzala 59:44:50 1960 Tour of Luzon May 14–22, 1960 9 Laps 1,648 km. Rodrigo Abaquita 57:51:02 1961 Tour of Luzon April 25-May 7, 1961 12 Laps 2,167 km. Jose Moring , Jr.. 59:44:50 1962 Tour of Luzon March 26-April 8, 1962 12 Laps 1,870.23 km. Edmundo De Guzman 61:04:50 1963 Tour of Luzon May 5, 1963 14 Laps 2,334.38 km. Gonzalo Recodos 78:27:54 1964 Tour of Luzon April 19-May 3, 1964 14 Laps 1,967.60 km. Jose Sumalde 60:22:09 1965 Tour of Luzon April 25-May 9, 1965 14 Laps 2,049.31 km. Jose Sumalde 65:13:19 1966 Tour of Luzon April 23-May 8, 1966 15 Laps 1,999.82 km. Cornelio Padilla , Jr.. 60:45:31 1967 Tour of Luzon April 12–19, 1967 8 Laps 1,634 km. Cornelio Padilla , Jr.. 70:34:57 1968 No tour held in 1968 1969 Tour ng Filipinas April 18–27, 1969 10 Laps 1,208.40 km. Domingo Quilban 37:50:29 1970 No tour held in 1970 1971 No tour held in 1971 1972 No tour held in 1972 1973 Tour of Luzon May 11–20, 1973 10 Laps 1,214 km. Jesus Garcia , Jr.. 34:38:38 1974 Tour of Luzon-Visayas April 23-May 12, 1974 18 Laps 2,540.95 km. Teodorico Rimarim 78:35:19 1975 Tour of Luzon April 19-May 4, 1975 15 Laps 2,207.87 km. Samson Etrata 66:18:48.6 1976 Tour of Luzon April 21-May 9, 1976 6 Laps 2,200 km. Modesto Bonzo 66:31:10.4 Tour of the Philippines
Year Name Duration Laps/Stages Distance Champion Time 1977 Tour ng Pilipinas May 2-June 5, 1977 24 Laps 4,000 km. Manuel Reynante 106:57:20.1 Marlboro Tour ng Pilipinas[1] June 7–26, 1977 3 Laps, 3 Stages 1,697 km. Jesus Garcia 55:37:52.8 THERE WERE TWO TOURS THAT WAS HELD ON 1976. THE TOUR NG PILIPINAS WAS WON BY MANUEL REYNANTE. REYNANTE WON TWO TOUR NG PILIPINAS CROWNS IN HIS CAREER. 1977 AND 1980 1978 Perk Speed Tour[2] February 9–12, 1978 4 Laps 405.8 km. Rumin Salamante 10:11:10 1979 Marlboro Tour April 18–30, 1979 11 Laps 1,900 km. Paquito Rivas 60:01:06.4 1980 Tour of the Philippines April 15-May 11, 1980 21 Laps 2,780.83 km. Manuel Reynante 83:08:00.84 1981 Tour of the Philippines March 17-April 12, 1981 21 Laps 3,058.81 km. Jacinto Sicam 87:25:43.99 Marlboro Tour
Year Name Duration Laps/Stages Distance Champion Time 1982 Marlboro Tour April 22-May 9, 1982 15 Laps 2,192.27.81 km. Jacinto Sicam 61:29:17.57 1983 Marlboro Tour April 16-May 1, 1983 14 Laps 2,313.11 km. Romeo Bonzo 63:54:31.94 1984 Marlboro Tour May 26-June 10, 1984 14 Laps 2,464.27.45 km. Ruben Carino 68:08:49.46 1985 Marlboro Tour April 18-May 12, 1985 21 Laps 3,668.97 km. Pepito Calip 97:04:42.04 1986 Marlboro Tour April 26-May 11, 1986 10 Laps 2,900.77 km. Rolando Pagnanawon 77:39:53.14 1987 Marlboro Tour May 21-June 7, 1987 17 Laps 3,282 km. Reynaldo Dequito 88:06:50.88 1988 Marlboro Tour April 28-May 15, 1988 17 Laps 3,544.53 km. Armando Catalan 94:44:03.92 1989 Marlboro Tour April 26-May 14, 1989 18 Laps 3,539.47 km. Gerardo Igos 95:40:23.79 1990 Marlboro Tour April 18-May 6, 1990 18 Laps 3,317.42 km. Manuel Buenaventura 95:58:38.80 1991 Marlboro Tour April 25-May 12, 1991 17 Laps 2,373.61 km. Bernardo Llentada 63:33:17.73 1992 Marlboro Tour May 21-June 7, 1992 17 Laps 2,731.38 km. Renato Dolosa 71:21:49.2 1993 Marlboro Tour April 17-May 9, 1993 21 Laps 3,480 km. Carlo guieb 91:41:54.62 1994 Marlboro Tour April 17-May 9, 1994 20 Stages 3,563 km. Carlo guieb 91:24:13.33 1995 Marlboro Tour March 18-April 8, 1995 19 Stages 3,280.33 km. Renato Dolosa 83:43:39.54 1996 Marlboro Tour April 14-May 5, 1996 19 Stages 3,257.29 km. Victor Espiritu 80:50:46.24 1997 Marlboro Tour[3] April 16-May 4, 1997 16 Stages 2,472 km. Wong Kam Po 62:06:28 1998 Marlboro Centennial Tour April 15-May 3, 1998 16 Stages 2,494 km. Warren Davadilla 64:58:57 1999 No tour held in 1999 2000 No tour held in 2000 2001 No tour held in 2001 FedEx/Air21 Tour
Year Name Duration Laps/Stages Distance Champion Time 2002 FedEx Tour of CALABARZON May 30-June 2 4 Stages 517.7 km. Santy Barnachea 12:41:13 2003 Air21 Tour Pilipinas April 16-May 11 15 Stages 2,849.8 km. Arnel Quirmit 55:29:20.63 2004 Air21 Tour Pilipinas April 15-May 2 17 Stages 2,849.8 km. Ryan Tanguilig 70:28:59 2005 Golden Tour 50@05 May 26-June 5 10 Stages 1,492 km. Warren Davadilla 37:20:55 2006 Padyak Pinoy Tour Pilipinas May 12–18 8 Stages 1,219.4 km. Santy Barnachea 31:10:03 2007 Padyak Pinoy May 17–29 10 Stages 1,500 km. Victor Espritu 33:02:38 2008 No tour held. 2009 No tour held. 2010 Le Tour de Filipinas April 17–20 4 Stages 
David McCann (IRL)2011 Le Tour de Filipinas April 16–19 4 Stages Rahim Emami (IRI)Notes
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ In 1997, the Tour allowed cyclists from Asia to participate in the event. Wong became the first non-Filipino to win the event. Asian riders were also allowed in 1998. Non-Asian riders were allowed to participate in 2010.
External links
Categories:- Recurring sporting events established in 1955
- Cycle races in the Philippines
- Road bicycle races
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