(*Originally published in my sports page column Self-Propelled in the October 23 to 29, 2011 issue of the Baguio Chronicle --- a weekly newspaper based in Baguio City, Philippines.)
LE Tour de Filipinas or the Tour of the Philippines is held each year from April to May each year. Its previous names included the Tour of Luzon, Marlboro Tour, Tour of Calabarzon (2002), Tour Pilipinas and Padyak Pinoy, before carrying the current name.
In 1955, the Tour was launched as a four-stage race from Manila to Vigan race won by Antonio Arzala. A year later, the race was renamed as the Tour of Luzon and carried the name until 1976 (there were no tours held in 1968, 1970, 1971 and 1972).
Among the prominent riders include Pangasinan riders Cornelio Padilla, Jr. and Jesus Garcia, who were two-time Tour champions along with Jose Sumalde of Catanduanes.
In 1977, a rift within the Professional Cycling Association of the Philippines or PCAP led to a split of two tours during the said year. The Padyak Pinoy website says that the event organized by Geruncio Lacuesta is recognized on their official list. The tour's name ended by 1978 as Marlboro entered the scene.
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.
In 1999, Marlboro backed out as sponsor which proved to be a devastating blow to the organizers. Because of this, there were no tours held from 1999 to 2001. To compensate for the loss of the so-called "Summer Cycling Spectacle", other groups formed mini-races during the summer.
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 @50, 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 which was won by Barnachea.
The Champions:
1955 Manila to Vigan (4 laps; 418 km) Antonio Arzala
1956 Tour of Luzon (5 laps; 1,057 km) Antonio Arzala (33:45:08)
1957 Tour of Luzon (6 laps; 1,155 km) Rufino Gabot (51:45:22)
1958 Tour of Luzon (7 laps; 1,517 km) Mamerto Eden (61:14:08)
1959 Tour of Luzon (8 laps; 1,634 km) Antonio Arzala (59:44:50)
1960 Tour of Luzon (9 laps; 1,648 km) Rodrigo Abaquita (57:51:02)
1961 Tour of Luzon (12 laps; 2,167 km) Jose Moring, Jr. (59:44:50)
1962 Tour of Luzon (12 laps; 1,870.23 km) Edmundo de Guzman (61:04:50)
1963 Tour of Luzon (14 laps; 2,334.38 km) Gonzalo Recodos (78:27:54)
1964 Tour of Luzon (14 laps; 1,967.6 km) Jose Sumalde (60:22:09)
1965 Tour of Luzon (14 laps; 2,049.31 km) Jose Sumalde (65:13:19)
1966 Tour of Luzon (15 laps; 1,999.82 km) Cornelio Padilla, Jr. (60:45:31)
1967 Tour of Luzon (8 laps; 1,634 km) Cornelio Padilla, Jr. (70:34:57)
1968 NO TOUR WAS HELD
1969 Tour ng Pilipinas (10 laps; 1,208.4 km) Domingo Quilban (37:50:29)
1970 NO TOUR WAS HELD
1971 NO TOUR WAS HELD
1972 NO TOUR WAS HELD
1973 Tour of Luzon (10 laps; 1,214 km) Jesus Garcia, Jr. (34:38:38)
1974 Tour of Luzon-Visayas (18 laps; 2,540.95 km) Teodorico Rimarim (78:35:19)
1975 Tour of Luzon (15 laps; 2,207.87 km) Samson Etrata (66:18:48.6)
1976 Tour of Luzon (6 laps; 2,200 km) Modesto Bonzo (66:31:10.4)
1977 Tour ng Pilipinas (24 laps; 4,000 km) Manuel Reynante (106:57:20.1)
1977 Marlboro Tour (3 laps; 1,697 km) Jesus Garcia (55:37:52.8)
1978 Perk Speed Tour (3 laps; 405.8 km) Rumin Salamante (10:11:10)
1979 Marlboro Tour (11 laps; 1,900 km) Paquito Rivas (60:01:06.4)
1980 Tour of the Phils. (21 laps; 2,780 km) Manuel Reynante (83:08:00.84)
1981 Tour of the Phils. (21 laps; 3,058.81 km) Jacinto Sicam (87:25:43.99)
1982 Marlboro Tour (15 laps; 2,192 km) Jacinto Sicam (61:29:17.57)
1983 Marlboro Tour (14 laps; 2,313 km) Romeo Bonzo (63:54:31:94)
1984 Marlboro Tour (14 laps; 2,464 km) Ruben Cariño (68:08:49.46)
1985 Marlboro Tour (21 laps; 3,668.97 kms.) Pepito Calip (97:04:42.04)
1986 Marlboro Tour (10 laps; 2,900 km) Rolando Pagnanawon (77:39:53.14)
1987 Marlboro Tour (17 laps; 3,282 km) Reynaldo Dequito (88:06:50.88)
1988 Marlboro Tour (17 laps; 3,544.53 km) Amando Catalan (94:44:03.92)
1989 Marlboro Tour (18 laps; 3,539.47 km) Gerardo Igos (95:40:23.79)
1990 Marlboro Tour (18 laps; 3,317.42 km) Manuel Buenaventura (95:58:38.8)
1991 Marlboro Tour (17 laps; 2,373.61 km) Bernardo Llentada (63:33:17.73)
1992 Marlboro Tour (17 laps; 2,731 km) Renato Dolosa (71:21:49.2)
1993 Marlboro Tour (21 laps; 3,480 km) Carlo Guieb (91:41:54.62)
1994 Marlboro Tour (21 stages; 3,563 km) Carlo Guieb (91:24:13.33)
1995 Marlboro Tour (19 stages; 3,280.33 km) Renato Dolosa (83:43:39.54)
1996 Marlboro Tour (19 stages; 3,257.29 km) Victor Espiritu (80:50:46.24)
1997 Marboro Tour (16 stages; 2,472 km) Wong Kam Po (Hong Kong) 62:06:28
1998 Marlboro Centennial Tour (16 stages; 2,494 km) Warren Davadilla (64:58:57)
1991 NO TOUR WAS HELD
2000 NO TOUR WAS HELD
2001 NO TOUR WAS HELD
2002 FedEx Tour of CALABARZON (4 stages; 517.7 km) Santy Barnachea (12:41:13)
2003 Air21 Tour Pilipinas (15 stages; 2,849.8 km) Arnel Quirimit (55:29:20.63)
2004 Air 21 Tour Pilipinas (17 stages; 2,849 km) Ryan Tanguilig) (70:28:59)
2005 Golden Tour 50@50 (10 stages; 1,492 km) Warren Davadilla (37:20:55)
2006 Padyak Pinoy (8 stages; 1,219.4 km) Santy Barnachea (31:10:03)
2007 Padyak Pinoy (10 stages;1,500 km) Victor Espiritu (33:02:38)
2008 NO TOUR WAS HELD
2009 NO TOUR WAS HELD
2010 Le Tour de Filipinas (4 stages) David McCann (Ireland)
2011 Le Tour de Filipinas (4 stages) Rahim Emami (Iran)
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