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Tour de Langkawi, Malaysia
3 - 12 February
Preview
Stages
3 February, Stage 1, KL Tower - Rawang, 81.8K
4 February, Stage 2, Tanjung Malim - Sitiawan, 164.7K
5 February, Stage 3, Lumut - Cameron Highlands, 150.3K
6 February, Stage 4, Tapah - Kuala Selangor, 144.5K
7 February, Stage 5, Menara TM - Genting Highlands, 90K
8 February, Stage 6, Shah Alam - Tampin, 187.7K
9 February, Stage 7, Muar - Kola Tinggi, 188.2K
10 February, Stage 8, Pontian - Batu Pahat, 78.7K
11 February, Stage 9, Melaka TT, 16.2K
12 February, Stage 10, Kuala Lumpur Criterium, 60K
Total 1,161.4K
Overall Map, photo: First Cartel Sdn Bhd
The race organizers of the Tour de Langkawi are back at it again for well designed 10 day stage race in Malaysia. There is not too much you can complain about with the 11th Tour de Langkawi: hot weather, exotic location, UCI points and the beast of the east, the Genting Highlands.
The race sticks in the southern end of the peninsula, offering stages for the sprint guns, climbing aces, and the TT men. The first stages will be blood thirsty sprints, offering the possibility of the race leader's jersey along with stage glory. Then affairs will get dicey, really dicey, with the Cameron Highlands (stage 3) and Genting Highlands (stage 5). The two stages are split by a flat sprint stage, but that won't leave much time for the legs to recover.
Just like in year's past the Genting Highlands will be a battle for the GC and for bragging rights. It does not rank up with Alpe d'Huez or the Passo dello Stelvio, but it is an important climb. The climbers will get freaky on this 36K climb that tops out at 1699 meters. BiciRace.com will be pulling for the climbing stallion, Saul Raisin (Crédit Agricole). His climbing speed, and team colors, will enable him to sneak away and take victory at the peak's posh resort.
Stage 6 (to Tampin) and stage 7 (to Kola Tinggi) will be long and steamy runs. Expect attacks on the overall leader over the undulating stages, but bunch gallops are the most likely end result. The GC men will want to keep a clean pair of wheels for the final overall test, the TT around Melaka. Over the 16.2 kilometers the 11th Tour de Langkawi leader's jersey should be sealed. The final day, a day for sprinters and Malaysian spectators, is a 3K circuit on the streets of the country's capital, Kuala Lumpur.
Past Winners:
2005 Ryan Cox (RSA) - Barloworld-Valsir
2004 Fredy González (Col) - Selle Italia-Colombia
2003 Tom Danielson (Usa) - Saturn
2002 Hernan Dario Muñoz (Col)
2001 Paolo Lanfranchi (Ita)
2000 Chris Horner (Usa)
1999 Paolo Lanfranchi (Ita)
1998 Gabrielle Missaglia (Ita)
1997 Luca Scinto (Ita)
1996 Damian McDonald (Aus)
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