CALATAGAN, Batangas — Led by Mayor Rico Puno and the local government of Calatagan, the town welcomed participants and delegations of the MPTC Tour of Luzon 2026 on Wednesday with the theme “A Heritage in Motion.”
The program, held in CaSoBe (Calatagan South Beach), was attended by participants, officials and guests from different parts of the country and abroad.
At the opening ceremony, the Calatagan Chorale and local dancers gave a cultural presentation.
Wednesday’s Stage 1, a grueling 150-kilometer road race from this beachfront paradise developed by Landco Pacific Corp. to the Tagaytay City Praying Hands, was punishing for the riders and was dominated by foreign competitors.
Syrian teenager Yousef Ibrahiem Alrefai of Life Cycles (LCW) from Dubai and his Russian teammate Nikita Shulchenko crossed the finish line hand-in-hand for a 1-2 finish. British rider Douglas Tyler Hannay of Excellent Noodles Cycling team secured third place.
Bringing together elite cyclists and showcasing the beauty of Luzon, the cycling event runs from April 29 to May 13.
The tour, presented by the Philippine Sports Commission, will have 14 demanding stages, spanning five regions and 13 provinces.
