No Pangasinan lap this year– Bonzo
FOR the first time in the history of Philippine multi-stage bicycle racings, there will be no Pangasinan lap terminal this year.
This was disclosed by Modesto Bonzo, the race director general of this year’s Tour Pilipinas now dubbed as “Padyak Pinoy” which reeled off last Friday. Bonzo was the 1976 Tour of Luzon champion from Sual.
“Our province mates will not really miss our ‘boys of summer’ this year because despite having no lap terminal in our province for the first time, we can still meet them and give them morale support along the national highways in the province like the towns of Binalonan, Pozorrubio, Sison in the second stage and San Fabian, Mangaldan, Sta. Barbara, Malasiqui and Bayambang on the fourth leg,” said Bonzo, also the race director general of last year’s Tour.
“Unlike last year’s tour which was done in ten days, the bikathon this year was shortend to eight days, and so it was also a change of preference, format, and ambiance by the sponsoring companies. We can’t do anything but to comply,” Bonzo explained.
Multi-stage cycling was born in 1955 as a two-day bikefest from Manila to Vigan, Ilocos Sur organized by the late Atty. Geruncio Lacuesta.
The following year (1956), Lacuesta made the race longer, a one week road battle to give the birth to the fabled “Tour of Luzon” with a lap terminal in Dagupan City. That race was won by Antonio Arzala of Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Pangasinense Rufino Gabot of Manaoag came in a close second.
The Tour continued till 1967 and Dagupan City was a favorite terminal lap. — JAG
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