ANTONIO ARZALA’s journey to cycling greatness began in an unlikely place—the North Cemetery, where he worked as a graveyard steward. With his earnings, he purchased his first racer bike for P130, setting the wheels in motion for a career that would eventually etch his name in Philippine cycling history.
The Balibago, Sta. Rosa, Laguna pride started as a newspaper courier, using his bike to navigate the streets of Manila. It was in these daily rides that his strength and endurance developed, allowing him to take on the best cyclists of his era.
Arzala made headlines when he raced against and defeated renowned riders of his era like Leonardo Abdon, Sixto Bola, and Pompeyo Dingding, proving himself as a rising star.
His breakthrough moment came in 1955, when he conquered the first and longest multi-stage race in the Philippines, the Manila to Vigan Race, a grueling four-stage competition with a staggered start.
A year later, he dominated the inaugural Tour of Luzon (1956), further cementing his status as one of the country’s top cyclists.
In 1957, Arzala was determined to defend his Tour of Luzon title “come hell or high water.” However, fate had other plans. During the race, he broke his bike’s fork, somersaulted, and was forced to withdraw, ending his bid for back-to-back glory.
Undeterred, he returned in 1959 to capture his third national cycling title.
For Antonio Arzala, an orphan, the Tour brought fame, fortune, and fulfillment—the most wonderful chapter of his life, written on the roads of Philippine cycling history.
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