UCI, PhilCycling back Le Tour de Filipinas

MANILA, Philippines - Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) president Pat McQuaid and PhilCycling chief Abraham Tolentino have again extended their support to the staging of the third edition of the Le Tour de Filipinas slated April 14-17.

“The Philippines can be very proud of this quality cycling race that has a crucial role to play in the development of our sport in Southeast Asia,” said McQuaid, head of cycling’s world-governing body, of the 2012 Le Tour de Filipinas.

“Since its start in 1955, this event has moved with the times, undergoing several changes of name and format before reaching today’s successful formula,” added McQuaid, referring to the fabled Tour which started as the Manila-Vigan Race in 1955 and transformed into the Tour of Luzon, Coca-Cola Tour, Tour ng Pilipinas and the 22-year Marlboro Tour.

In the post Marlboro Tour era, Air21 owner Bert Lina revived the multi-stage race and named it FedEx Express Tour in 2002, Tour Pilipinas in the next two years, Golden Tour in 2005 and Padyak Pinoy from 2006 to 2009. In 2010, Lina, who headed the PhilCycling from 2003 to 2008, decided to go international and organized the Le Tour de Filipinas. In 2011, LBC Express organized the first LBC Ronda Pilipinas, a 12-stage tour of Mindanao, Visayas and Luzon and the biggest in terms of participation and prizes during the last 10 years.

Tolentino, also the mayor of Tagaytay City, echoed McQuaid’s support to the Le Tour which will kick off from Sta. Ana to Tuguegarao for Stage One, Tuguegarao to Cauayan City for Stage Two, Cauayan to Bayombong for Stage Three and Bayombong to Baguio City via Aritao-Kayapa Roads through the Benguet backdoor for Stage Four.

“The PhilCycling is again throwing its full sport to the 2012  Le Tour de Filipinas, which is proof of the continued enthusiasm Filipinos have toward cycling,” said Tolentino.

The Philippine National Cycling Association, headed by 1978 Tour champion and former Eagle of the Mountain Paquito Rivas, is again running the race, which will have on its roster at least 10 foreign teams and five local squads.

McQuaid has been responsible for Marlboro Tour international editions in 1997 and 1998.

“I was myself involved for some years as race director of the race so I know at first hand the work that has to go into putting on a race of this size, and of course, I still have many friends amongst the cycling family in the Philippines,” he said.

McQuaid succeeded as UCI president Hein Verbruggen, a long-time chief of the sport’s international federation who insisted at visiting the Philippines before his retirement in 2004. Lina hosted the visit of Verbruggen, who now holds a top and sensitive position at the International Olympic Committee.