MANILA, Philippines ? More than just prize money, the Tour of Luzon will offer cyclists a priceless opportunity to represent the country when it kicks off tomorrow at the Quezon Memorial Circle.

Outright inclusion in the national team awaits the top 12 finishers in the seven-day bikathon organized by Liquigaz and the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers Association.

The elite group, which will automatically suit up for the national squad under the leadership of PhilCycling president Bambol Tolentino, will come from the 90 riders eyeing a piece of the P2-million total prize at stake.

Past Tour champions Warren Davadilla, Arnel Quirimit, Rhyan Tanguilig and Santy Barnachea are just some of the riders favored to claim RP team slots along with perennial contenders Lloyd Reynante, Merculio Ramos and Baler Ravina.

?We want to help the national team form the best squad possible for international competitions,? said LPGMA president Arnel Ty after getting the full backing of Liquigaz president Patrick Libihoul on the multi-stage summer spectacle.

Libihoul recently announced the support of Liquigaz mother company SHV Gas, which has a team in the Tour de France.

Senator Francis ?Chiz? Escudero will fire the starting gun while Congresswoman Nanette Castelo Daza of Quezon City and QC councilor Winnie Castelo will also grace the affair during the first stage of the seven-day tour from Quezon City to Lucena City.