BAGUIO CITY — The ultimate goal is clear—send a Filipino cyclist to the Tour de France.
For Patrick Gregorio, chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission, that dream is the very reason the MPTC Tour of Luzon (ToL) was revived , and why it continues to grow in scale and stature.
“One day in the near future, we will see a Filipino in the Tour de France,” Gregorio said at the end of the 14-stage, 1,800-kilometer race that concluded for the second straight year in Baguio City. “It’s not impossible. We just need to focus our resources, focus on training, and prepare them properly.”
A talent search on two wheels
Beyond awarding champions and stage winners, Gregorio emphasized that the Tour’s deeper purpose is talent discovery and national team development.
He revealed that he has been asking around about the country’s most promising riders, with names like Joshua Nash Lim, the Tour’s best-placed Filipino rider from MPT Drive Hub, surfacing in conversations as potential prospects.
Growing bigger, not just longer
While the 2026 edition stretched from Calatagan, Batangas to Baguio City, Gregorio said expansion plans are already being discussed, not necessarily by adding more stages, but by making the race “bigger.”
He floated the possibility of starting future editions outside Luzon, even in the Visayas, while retaining the race’s historic identity.
“Like the Tour de France, which sometimes starts in another country, maybe one day we can start in the Visayas , but it’s still the Tour of Luzon,” he said. “If we want to develop cycling all over the country, we should look at that possibility.”
He added that discussions with organizers and cycling stakeholders are expected in the coming months to explore new routes and destinations for the 2027 edition, confirmed to be held during the closing ceremonies late Wednesday.
Foreign riders raising the level
A significant factor in the race’s rising competitiveness is the growing presence of international teams.
Gregorio confirmed that more foreign squads have expressed interest in joining future editions. While participation has been managed to maintain balance, he believes international exposure is vital to Filipino riders’ growth.
“I asked our local cyclists what they feel when world-class riders are here,” he said. “They like it. As athletes, you want to beat the best. That’s how you improve.”
He noted that even officials from the Union Cycliste Internationale are beginning to monitor the Philippine race, signalling that the Tour of Luzon is gaining global attention.
A race that inspires dreams
What moved Gregorio most, however, were the children lining the race routes and finish areas — some arriving as early as 9 a.m., already wearing helmets and cycling kits.
“They’re cheering,” he said. “That’s the start of their dreams. They’re waiting for the pro cyclists to cross the line, and they’re imagining themselves there one day.”
For Gregorio, that image captures the true essence of the Tour of Luzon both as a competition and a platform for inspiration.
“Tour of Luzon is here to stay,” he declared. “It’s a heritage in motion. And the dream is clear, one day, we will see a Filipino at the Tour de France.”
