Etrata Eventually Strips Rivas of Yellow Jersey In ’75 Burgos-To-Baguio ITT

This was the solitary break in the otherwise winning streak of Paquito Rivas during the Burgos-to-Baguio stage.

In the crucial Individual Time Trial (13th) lap in 1975, East Visayas stalwart Paquito Rivas surrendered both the lap victory and the yellow jersey to East Pangasinan stalwart Samson Etrata, a seasoned campaigner who first rode in the 1967 Tour.

The yellow jersey exchanged hands six times during a volatile 16th edition before Etrata ultimately dislodged Rivas and claimed the overall general classification for good, decided by one of the slimmest margins of victory in history: just 39.7 seconds.

Outside of that 1975 setback, Constable Rivas historically ruled the Burgos-to-Baguio ITT in 1973, 1974, 1976, and 1977, earning his iconic title as the Eagle of the Mountain.