Tour of Luzon 2026 opens in Batangas as 13 teams launch “A Heritage in Motion” cycling battle 

The MPTC Tour of Luzon 2026 officially begins on Tuesday, April 28, with its opening ceremony and team presentation in Calatagan, Batangas, marking the start of a demanding two-week cycling race. 

Thirteen teams, six international and seven local—will roll out their colors, jerseys, and ambitions under the banner of “A Heritage in Motion,” a race designed to test not just speed, but survival across the Philippine landscape.

The evening program, set against the shores of Balayan Bay, will gather 91 riders representing different nations, alongside key figures from Philippine sports and government. 

Among those addressing the peloton are Patrick “Pato” Gregorio, chairman of Tour co-presentor Philippine Sports Commission and widely recognized as the “Father of the Tour of Luzon Revival,” and MPTC Tour of Luzon chief organizer and CEO Arrey Perez.

They will be joined by Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino, who will deliver a message to the riders as the race officially sets its tone. 

The ceremony will also be opened by NLEX Corporation president and general manager Luis Reñon, and attended by Games and Amusements Board chairman Atty. Francisco Rivera, Calatagan Mayor Rico Puno, and Cardinal Santos Medical Center president and CEO Raul Pagdanganan.

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THE RIDE BEGINS

Mark your calendars for April 28, 2026, 5PM as the opening ceremony signals a new chapter for Philippine cycling.

Catch the MPTC Tour of Luzon 2026: Heritage in Motion, APRIL 29-MAY 13 on @OneSportsPHL, One Sports+ & Pilipinas Live!#MPTCTourofLuzon2026 pic.twitter.com/AP6cyHsFYk

— Kapatid Insider (@KapatidInsider) April 27, 2026

Also present are MMDA General Manager Gen. Nicolas Torre III, fresh from participating in the Heritage Race for cycling executives, and members of the late cycling patron Albert Lina’s family—wife Sylvia and daughter Donna—continuing his legacy within the sport.

A symbolic highlight of the program will be the handover of the MPTC Tour of Luzon Perpetual Trophy from reigning champion MPTC DriveHub back to the organizers. 

The trophy, which can only be permanently claimed by a team winning the title three times, will remain in play, with DriveHub receiving a replica for their 2025 triumph.

On the sporting front, the field is stacked with international and domestic firepower. Defending individual champion Joo Dae Yeong returns to lead Gapyeong Cycling Team of South Korea, one of two Korean squads joined by Seoul Cycling Team.

They will be challenged by LCW UAE Cycle, Malaysia National Team, CCN Factory Racing from Hong Kong, and Ponti Wijaya Racing Team from Indonesia—adding global depth to a race already rich in competition. Philippine teams 7-Eleven Cliqq Roadbike Philippines, Go For Gold Philippines, and reigning champion MPTC DriveHub headline the local contingent.

They are joined by Standard Insurance Philippines, DReyna Orion Cement Pro Cycling Team, Excellent Noodles, and Pangasinan Cycling Team, forming a deep domestic lineup ready to battle across mountains, coasts, and highways.

The race will conclude with Stage 14 from Lingayen to John Hay Hotels in Baguio City—an uphill finish worthy of a champion.

With a fireworks display set to close on opening night over Balayan Bay, the Tour of Luzon begins not just as a race, but as a full-scale test of endurance across the country’s most challenging roads. 

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