Another Exciting LTdl Race In Store This Year

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- This year's Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL), a prestigious cycling event in Asia, promises to stage another exciting race just like previous editions. It has various challenges in store for riders gunning for the Yellow Jersey, the priced jersey that will be worn by the overall winner in the competition. In addition to the coveted Yellow Jersey, from this year onwards, the champion's title comes with the honour of lifting the LTdL Challenge Trophy, conceptualized from the iconic eagle monument at Dataran Lang in Kuah in northern resort island of Langkawi, which symbolizes the birthplace of the race and also to honour the contributions of its founder, former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. The teams have arrived and started their training to get acclimatized with the hot and humid Malaysian weather. A total of 22 teams including two pro-tour teams -- Astana Pro Team and Garmin-Barracuda -- adding more glitter to the cycling championship, which will be in its 17th edition this year. Kazakhstan outfit, Astana will be banking on their top rider Alexandre Vinokourov to spearhead their challenge. The 38-year-old Vinokourov, who will be running for a seat in Kazakhstan's parliament in January, will be making a return to the race where it all started for him 15 years ago. "Le Tour de Langkawi has a special place in my heart and I always knew that it is a well organised race," said Vinokourov when met at the team presentation ceremony graced by Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek and Kuala Lumpur Mayor Ahmad Fuad Ismail at Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square), here on Thursday. "I'm happy to come back to this country where I starts my career. This year's race is going to be hot and looking forward to race again. Tomorrow's ITT (Individual Time Trial) will be my first stage race since having a big crash in Tour de France last year," added Vinokurov. Besides Vinokurov, United States' Tom Danielson of Garmin Barracuda also has fond memories racing in Malaysia. "Malaysia is a very special place for me. I started my career here. It got me noticed in the European scene. Coming here, I figured out that I need to get the notch in my career and get out of the top ten mentality, get back to where I was earlier in my career. "I feel that starting my season here will be the best way to start that task. I have very fond memories here and I feel very motivated," said the 34-year-old rider, who were the 2003 overall champion. This year's race will also features five other former champions on the track and they are Columbia's Freddy Gonzalez (2004) and Jose Serpa (2009); France's Anthony Charteau (2007) and Venezuela's Jose Rujano (2010) and Yonnatta Monsalve (2011). The participation of Astana Pro Team in this year's race will be a task for the other Asian riders in their race for the White Jersey (Best Asian Rider). As for 2006 White Jersey holder, Iran's Hossein Askari of Tabriz Petrochemical Team, Astana's riders are not a threat to him or other Iranian riders. Since it was first introduced in 1998, the jersey was won by Asia's best, including Indonesia's Tonton Susanto (1998, 2002, 2009); Hong Kong's Wong Kam Po (2000, 2001); Iran's Ghader Mizbani (2004, 2007) and Hossein Askari (2006); South Korea's Gong Hyo-Suk (2010), Japan's Hideto Yukinari (1999), Tomoya Kano (2003) and the Fukushima brothers, Koji (2005) and Shinichi (2008). As for host Malaysia, LTdL would offer a tremendous opportunity for national cyclists involved in road races to prove their worth. Seasoned campaigner Suhardi Hassan will spearhead the national team which comprise Ahmad Falanie Ali, Amir Mustafa Rusli, Mohd Nor Rizuan Zainal, Muhamad Rauf Nur Misbah and Mohd Fauzan Ahmad Lutfi, while Mohd Shahrul Mat Amin, Mohamad Saufi Mat Senan, Mohd Harrif Salleh and his elder brother, Mohd Zamri will join forces with Shinichi and South Korea's Jang Chan Jae in the Terengganu Cycling Team. Four local riders representing other foreign teams are Anuar Manan and Adiq Husainie Othman (Champion System), Loh Sea Keong (OCBC Singapore) and Ng Yong Li (Azad University Cross Team). The race has been maintained at 10 stages but with an increased distance of 1,414.8 kilometres, offering a more grueling challenge and for the first time in the history of the LTdL, Terengganu will host the last three stages, namely from Pekan to Chukai (100.8km), Kemasik-Kuala Terengganu (165.7km) and Tasik Kenyir-Kuala Terengganu (114.8km). A hundred and 32 rider will starts their challenge at Friday's Individual Time Trial (ITT) in Putrajaya. -- BERNAMA