Remembering the Marlboro Tour of Luzon

Every summer of the 1980s and early 1990s, I usually buy an issue of Inquirer every day just to follow the Marlboro Tour of Luzon. Do you remember Renato Dolosa, Gerardo Igos, Ronaldo Pagnanawon, Bernardo Llentada, Carlo Guieb, Victor Espiritu, Warren Davadilla, et.al? From the plains of Central Luzon to the Bitukang Manok of the Bicol Region, but my favorite leg is the Baguio-Baguio leg. Where road racers start from Burnham Park, go down Marcos Highway and climb up Kennon Road. Renato Dolosa and Carlo Guieb are the usual competitors that battle for the King of the Mountain trophy. Too bad Marlboro stop their support for the Tour and 2 years there was no tour. Good thing Air 21/Fedex picked up the pieces and sponsored Padyak Pinoy. But nothing compares to 16-21 stages of road racing across Luzon and Visayas under the summer heat.