LORETO MANDI | Marlboro Tour’s four-time Sprint King

Born on December 9, 1967, in Gerona, Tarlac, Loreto Mandi—the 5-foot-8 son of a farmer—was a modern marvel and a formidable stage hunter in his prime.

Nicknamed “Kidlat ng Central Luzon,” Loreto Mandi made his debut as a rookie in the Marlboro Tour ’88. His baptism of fire was brutal—crashing out early and cutting his campaign short. However, this initial setback did not deter him. Instead, he persevered, evolving into a perennial contender in Philippine cycling.

Mandi’s resilience and exceptional skill led him to an unprecedented four-time Marlboro Tour Sprint King reign (1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996). His dominance in sprints and his knack for claiming stage victories cemented his legacy as one of the greatest riders of his time.

With 16 lap wins, Loreto Mandi ranks among the top five greatest and most accomplished cyclists in Philippine national tour history. His impressive tally surpassed the records of Carlo Guieb (12 lap wins) and Paquito Rivas (13 lap wins). Mandi stands seven wins shy of the all-time greatest, Gerardo Igos (1989 Marlboro Tour titlist), and trails Jose Sumalde (back-to-back titlist in ’93 and ’94) and Rodrigo Abaquita (Cebu’s first national tour champion) by just one win.

Loreto Mandi joins Manolito Moring (ranked second with 19 lap wins) in the Top 5, who came close but never claimed an overall national cycling tour title.