Tarlac’s very own cycling hero Tomas Martinez clinched the 4th leg of this years Tour of Luzon clocking 3hrs 6 mins 11.61 sec of the 132 km road race that kicked off in Subic and finished at the Tarlac Recreational Park in San Jose Tarlac, home of the 2010 Palarong Pambansa. Martinez belongs to the Smart Cycling Team, one of 10 in the 60 man cycling event. The tour’s Tarlac leg is part of this year’s Palarong Pambansa pre-events.

In fighting form: Tomas Martinez of Team Smart, 30 years old, a native of Brgy. Baras-Baras, Tarlac City recently won the stage 5, Tarlac leg of the Tour of Luzon 2010. Martinez was joined in the podium by fellow Tarlaqueno, Arnel Queremit of Team Liquigaz in third place. The route begun in Clarkfield Pampanga, passed through the towns of Bamban, Capas, Tarlac City, Gerona, Paniqui, Camiling, Sta. Ignacia and San Jose. The Tour of Luzon was invited by the provincial Government of Tarlac to help drum up the upcoming Palarong Pambansa in the province. (Photo and caption by DL Simbol)