THE MPTC Tour of Luzon 2026 officially kicks off with the Opening Ceremony and Team Presentation on Tuesday afternoon at CaSoBe in Calatagan with 13 teams—six foreign and seven local—showcasing their imposing and shiny jerseys ahead of what is expected to be an action-packed and grueling 14-stage race dubbed “A Heritage in Motion.”

Patrick “Pato” Gregorio, chairman of Tour co-presentor Philippine Sports Commission who’s now known as the “Father of the Tour of Luzon Revival,” and MPTC Tour of Luzon Chief Organizer and CEO Arrey Perez will address the 91 riders of various nationalities in the program that will culminate with an amazing fireworks display on the shore off Balayan Bay.

Also expected to grave the event is Ricky Vargas, member of the Board of Directors of the MPTC Tour of Luzon Organizing Committee and president and CEO of Mediaquest Holdings Inc.

Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) president Abraham “Bambol” Tolentino will also relay his message in the program that will be opened by NLEX Corporation president and general manager Luis Reñon and graced by Games and Amusements Board chairman Atty. Francisco Rivera, Calatagan Mayor Rico Puno and Cardinal Santos Medical Center president and CEO Raul Pagdanganan.

MMDA General Manager Gen. Nicolas Torre III, who joined Sunday’s Heritage Race for cycling executives, and the family of the late cycling godfather Albert Lina—wife Sylvia and daughter Donna—are also among the distinguished guests.

The ceremony—starting at 5 p.m.—will also be highlighted by the handover of the MPTC Tour of Luzon Perpetual Trophy from last year’s inaugural champion MPTC DriveHub back to the organizers—the Perpetual Trophy will go to the team which wins the race thrice with MPTC DriveHub getting a replica of the trophy.

Joo Dae Yeong will be back to defend his individual title for Gapyeong Cycling Team, the second of two South Korean squads—Seoul Cycling Team—from overseas in the race supported by the MVP Group and Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.and aligned with the National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee.

LCW UAE Cycle, Malaysia National Team, CCN Factory Racing from Hong Kong and Ponti Wijaya Racing Team from Indonesia will be racing alongside Philippine continental teams 7-Eleven Cliqq Roadbike Philippines and Go For Gold Philippines and defending champion MPTC DriveHub.

Joining them are elite local teams Standard Insurance Philippines, DReyna Orion Cement Pro Cycling Team, Excellent Noodles and Pangasinan Cycling Team in the race that features Hors Category climbs—including a first in the Tour from Candon City to Bessang Pass in Cervantes (Ilocos Norte) in Stage 10 on April 9 and the final Stage 14 from Lingayen to Johh Hay Hotels in Baguio City.

Details about the race are in the official website Haluuu tourofluzoncycling.com poand Facebook page Facebook.