Brutal climbs, breakneck sprints highlight MPTC Tour of Luzon route

Tour of Luzon CEO and Chief Organizer Arrey Perez. Photo c/o ToL

Organizers have revealed the route of the 2026 edition of the MPTC Tour of Luzon, which will cover a distance of 1,815.80 kilometers split into fourteen stages and traversing thirteen provinces in Luzon.

According to CEO and Chief Organizer Arrey Perez, "It’s a balanced route for both climbers and sprinters," emphasizing its impending unpredictability.

He also adds, "Teamwork will play a crucial role in the race, with domestiques expected to take on the challenging task of bringing their respective teams into contention for the GC [general classification]."

This year's edition, dubbed as "A Heritage in Motion," and is once again presented by the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, will kick off on April 29 at CaSoBe in Calatagan, Batangas for the lone southern leg, before it moves north the next day to Clark in Central Luzon. It will then traverse through the region and cross into the Cagayan Valley, before it moves west to the Ilocos Region and finishing at the Cordillera Administrative Region, specifically at Scout Hill within Camp John Hay in Baguio City on May 13.

In highlighting the degree of difficulty, Perez notes, "Just how tough and challenging the race is can be seen in the King of the Mountain (KOM) classification, which features 25 climbs,” Meanwhile, “As for the sprints, there are 16 in total, spread across the 14 stages," he shares.

The race stages are as follows:

• Stage 1, CaSoBe (Calatagan) to Tagaytay City (150.10 km)
• Stage 2, Clark to New Clark City (43.40 km, team time trial)
• Stage 3, New Clark City to Palayan City (140.10 km)
• Stage 4, Palayan City to Bayombong (165.80 km)
• Stage 5, Santiago City to Tuguegarao City (130.60 km).
• Stage 6, from Tuguegarao City to Pagudpud, (228.90 km, marked by two KOM points)
• Stage 7, Pagudpud circuit (22.90 km, Individual Time Trial), followed by a rest day.
• Stage 8 Pagudpud to Paoay (157.40 km)
• Stage 9 Laoag City to Candon City (142.60 km).
• Stage 10 Candon City to Bessang Pass in Cervantes, Ilocos Sur (131.20 km, includes a key climb).
• Stage 11 Candon City to San Juan (158.70 km)
• Stage 12 Agoo to Daang Kalikasan in Mangatarem (146.40 km).
• Stage 13 Lingayen–Binmaley Baywalk (20.00 km, Individual Time Trial).
• Stage 14, Lingayen to John Hay Hotels via Kennon Road.

Perez also noted that with multiple teams continuing to express interest in participating in the Tour, there is a potential of surpassing the 20-team benchmark—seven riders per team—for the tour.

Organizers shared that at least five foreign teams have confirmed their participation with registration.

Feedback from the local government units where the tour will pass through has been very much encouraging.

More details are set to be revealed in the next few weeks.