The 32-year-old son of a fisherman from Northern Samar, Paquito Rivas, became only the second champion in national cycling tour history to emerge victorious without winning a single stage. “Swerte at Tibay ang nagpanalo sa akin,” the former Visayas team skipper said.
In his professional cycling debut during the revival of the Tour of Luzon in 1973, Rivas claimed the distinguished Eagle of the Mountain—a distinction he would hold four times in his illustrious career—yet finished only 12th overall. Yet, he rebounded the following year in 1974, placing fourth overall.
Though he idolized the Tarlaceño stalwart, Cornelio Padilla, Rivas attributed his mountain climbing skills to Bicolandia’s “Mr. Durable” and the first Burgos-Baguio conqueror in 1965, Jose Sumalde, who turned his raw climbing ability into polished, strategic mountain mastery.
Likewise, Paquito Rivas earned the moniker “The Heartbreak Kid” after a series of near-miss victories in his career, spanning from 1975 all the way to 1977.
“Noong may ka-teammate ako, hindi ako manalo. Ngayon at individual ang laban, nag-champion ako,” Rivas quipped.
His victory in the inaugural 1979 Marlboro Tour yielded a 9-minute, 29.3-second gap—acclaimed as the widest margin of victory since the revival of the Tour of Luzon in 1973.
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