Tour of Luzon stakes P12M pot, biggest in its history
The 14-stage MPTC Tour of Luzon will carry the biggest cash pot in the history of Philippine cycling—P12 million—with the wealth spread all around for the best individual performers, the champion most of all, and the team.
A cool P1 million will be awarded to the individual champion of the event set to be flagged off on April 29 at CaSoBe in Calatagan, while the team champion takes home double that amount, making for a very interesting summer spectacle on wheels.
The event also awards daily efforts, with the owner of the yellow jersey of leadership getting P15,000 a day he wears it, even as side events like the Eagle of the Mountain winning P350,000, the Sprint King P300,000 and the Best Young Rider (White, under-23) P200,000.
Renato Dolosa, who won the fabled event twice just when it was jacking up its prize money, believes that the race will be tight all the way, with the difference between the individual champion and runner-up being P500,000.
“This will surely be a battle,” Dolosa, the 1992 and 1995 champ who is now a race commissaire, said in Filipino. “Look at the difference in prizes between the champion and the runner-up, that’s a lot to fight for to the end.”
The third-placed rider after 14 stages gets P400,000; fourth P300,000; fifth P250,000; sixth P200,000, seventh 175,000; eighth P150,000; ninth P125,000; and 10th 100,000
The team prizes from third to 10th place are pegged at P1,000,000; P500,000; 400,000, P300,000; 250,000;, P200,000; P150,000; P150,000; and P100,000, in that order.
After the first stage from CaSoBe to Tagaytay, the riders will embark on a team time trial from Clark Parade Grounds to New Clark City. Stage 3 from New Clark City to Palayan City, Stage 4 from Palayan City to Bayombong, Stage 5 from Santiago City to Tuguegarao City, Stage 6 from Tuguegarao City to Pagudpud and Stage 7 Pagudpud-Pagudpud the first of two individual time trial races.
