Malaysia tops field with most
number of riders
NST, 1/2/2008
 |
| Proton MD Datuk Syed Zainal
Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahir (left) and LTdL 2008 COO Datuk Naim
Mohamed at the Blue Jersey launch yesterday. |
A RECORD number 30 different nationalities
will make up the field for Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) on Feb 9-17.
Malaysia, based on the provisional start
list of 150 riders, will have the highest number with 18, followed
by Australia with 17, Japan (12), Italy (10), France and Germany
(9).
The other nations represented in LTdL are
New Zealand, Hong Kong, South Korea, Iran, South Africa, Indonesia,
Spain, Russia, Colombia, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, China, Mexico,
Argentina, Belarus, Venezuela, Taiwan, Ireland, Britain, Moldavia,
Netherlands, Estonia, Belgium and the USA.
The 25 teams on the start line will be Crédit
Agricole, Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni-Androni Giocattoli, South
Africa, Giant-Asia, Tinkoff, Skil-Shimano, Bouygues Telecom, Ag2r-La
Mondiale, CSF Group-Navigare, Karpin-Galicia, Team Type 1, NGC
Medical-OTC Industria Porte, Gerolsteiner-Ista, Southaustralia.com-AIS,
Meitan Hompo-GDR, Trek-Marco Polo, Azad University, LeTua, Polygon-Sweet
Nice, Seoul Cycling Team, Malaysia Continental, Drapac-Porsche,
New Zealand, Hong Kong and Malaysia.
The replacement of the traditional climb
up Genting Highlands by Fraser’s Hill opens the final victory
to more contenders than ever. South American climbers remain the
main favorites with Colombia’s José Serpa, who has
won Genting Highlands twice in two outings here, the early favourite.
Simon Gerrans and Nicholas Roche (Crédit
Agricole), Ian McLeod and David George (South Africa), Johann
Tschopp (Bouygues Telecom), Stijn Vandenbergh (Ag2r), Julio Alberto
Perez Cuapio (CSF), Matt Wilson (Team Type 1), Wesley Sulzberger
(Southaustralia.com), Yukiya Arashiro (Meitan Hompo-GDR) and Jai
Crawford (Trek-Marco Polo) are among the potential overall winners.
Meanwhile, Proton, a loyal supporter of
LTdL, is once again a partner. Proton managing director Datuk
Syed Zainal Abidin Syed Mohamed Tahirone and LTdL chief operating
officer Datuk Naim Mohamed attended yesterday’s Blue Jersey
launch.
One of the major differences in the Tour
this year is the idea of taking it closer to the people. To achieve
this, more events will be organised on the ground which means
more carnival-like activities at all start and finish venues.
One of the side events to be included will
be cycling clinics as the one of the Tour’s aim is to promote
cycling at the grassroots.
This will be done via the Rukun Tetangga
and Kampung Baru programmes.
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