DISTINGUISHED KOREAN FLAIR

Hyo Suk vs Askari at Genting Highlands LTdL 2010


Hyo Suk in the best Asian Jersey


Korea National Team for LTdL 2011

14 January 2011, KUALA LUMPUR: AFTER an eye opening performance through Gong Hyo Suk last year, South Korean national team should be respected in the 16th edition of Le Tour de Langkawi 2011 (LTdL) as they are capable of challenging their rival at the 10 stages comprising of flat and hills this coming, January 23 to February 1.

Koreans have already made their mark in LTdL history when Lee Won Jae won Stage 3 at Banting in LTdL 2008, representing Seoul Cycling Team, thus became the fourth Asian rider to win a stage.

Leading the challenge in the Cameron Highlands and Genting Hinglands, is definitely Gong Hyo Suk who shocked many when he ranked second overall, after losing to eventual overall winner Jose Rujano of ISD-Neri in the climb to Genting Highlands while Gong was awarded the Best Asian Rider. He the first Asian rider to record the best result in the Hors category Genting Highlands climb, mostly dominated by South American and European riders.

Hyo Suk, 25, proved reliable and is expected to be one of the contenders once again in the fight for the overall win based on his ability to climb the ‘Queen Stage’ of LTdL, as he had proved from his two victories in mountain stages in Tour de Korea last year.

Park Sung Baek is predicted to heat up the competition for the Sprint jersey, as he is highly motivated to make up for his disappointment at the Asian Games Guangzhou last year when his victory was cancelled.

With 21 victories in his career, including three victories last year at the Tour of Singkarak, Indonesia and two-stage wins at Tour of Hokaido, Japan, 25 year old Sung Baek, is expected to have enough experience to find victory in any race in Asia.

At the Asian Games in Guangzhou, Sung Baek sprinted to the finish, but his victory was cancelled by the commissaire panel for allegedly dangerous sprinting, then the gold medal went to the veteran Hong Kong rider, Wong Kam Po who was the Asian first rider to win a stage in LTdL.

However, in spite of the two main riders in the Korean National squad, this time led by team manager Do Eun Chul, their success depends greatly on the support of four other riders listed in the team, who are Jang Kyung Gu, Jang Chan Jae, Choi Jong Gyun and Yoo Ki Hong.

All four riders gained lot of experience with different clubs in Korea, are expected to assist Hyo Suk and Sung Baek, yet still capable of creating a surprise based on the records of their respective careers. Ki Hong, who represents Seoul Cycling since 2008 and Chan Jae who won Stage 2, from Peace Dam to Union Bridge of Tour de Korea last year.

CEO of Le Tour de Langkawi 2011, Mohamed Salleh is impressed with the team’s line-up this year, “With the return of our defending Asian Overall winner Gong Hyo Suk, the Korea line-up is going to be a strong force in the field, I hope they will do well and probably be the first Asian rider to win in Genting Highlands too.”

KOREA NATIONAL TEAM LINE-UP:

TEAM MANAGER: DO Eun Chul

RIDERS: JANG Kyung Gu, PARK Sung Baek, GONG Hyo Suk, CHOI Jong Gyun, JANG Jae Chan, YOO Ki Hong

Le Tour de Langkawi 2011 is organized by the Youth and Sports Ministry of Malaysia together with the Malaysian National Cycling Federation. The 2011 Tour is scheduled to be held from 23rd January to 1st February covers a total distance of 1315.4 kms with 10 stages, starting in Langkawi Island and ending at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur.

Ends


BM - PASUKAN KOREA WAJAR DIHORMATI

14 Januari 2011, KUALA LUMPUR: SELEPAS membuka mata ramai menerusi Park Sung Baek pada 2009 dan Gong Hyo SUk tahun lalu, skuad kebangsaan Korea Selatan wajar dihormati pada edisi ke-16 Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2011 kerana dua pelumba itu mampu mencabar laluan landai dan berbukit apabila tirai saingan disingkap, 23 Januari ini.

Pelumba Korea Selatan sudahpun mengukir nama mereka apabila Lee Won Jae yang mewakili pasukan Seoul Cycling Team menang Peringkat 3 di Banting pada LTdL 2008, sekali gus menjadi pelumba benua Asia keempat yang mampu memenangi peringkat dalam sejarah LTdL.

Mengetuai cabaran dalam kayuhan ke Cameron Highlands dan Genting Hinglands pada Peringkat 4 dan 5, pastinya Gong Hyo Suk yang membuka mata ramai tahun lalu apabila menduduki tangga kedua individu keseluruhan, selepas tewas kepada pelumba ISD-Neri, Jose Rujano dalam pendakian ke Genting Highlands.

Pemenang jersi biru Pelumba Terbaik Asia LTdL 2010 itu dianggap pelumba berbakat besar kerana menjadi pelumba Asia pertama yang mencatat keputusan sebaik itu dalam pendakian sukar bertaraf hors ke Genting Hihglands yang selama ini dikuasai pelumba Amerika Selatan dan Eropah.

Hyo Suk, 25, terbukti masih handal dan dijangka akan menjadi pencabar sekali lagi dalam perebutan jersi kuning keseluruhan berdasarkan kemampuan dalam pendakian itu, seperti yang dibuktikan dengan dua lagi kemenangan dalam peringkat pendakian di Tour de Korea tahun lalu.

Park Sung Baek, sekali lagi menjadikan saingan bagi jersi Pecut lebih hangat ketika dia diramal berada dalam prestasi baik dan bermotivasi tinggi untuk menebus kehampaan apabila kemenangannya dalam acara lebuh raya Sukan Asia Guangzhou tahun lalu, dibatalkan.

Dengan 21 kemenangan dalam karier termasuk tiga kemenangan peringkat dikumpul pada tahun lalu iaitu di Tour of Singkarak, Indonesia dan dua peringkat Tour of Hokaido, Jepun, Sung Baek, 25, dijangka sudah cukup berpengalaman untuk mencari kemenangan dalam mana-mana perlumbaan di benua Asia.

Pada Sukan Asia Guangzhou, Sung Baek membuat henjutan bertenaga ketika menghampiri penamat tetapi kemenangannya dibatalkan panel komisar kerana didakwa berkayuh secara berbahaya, lantas pingat emas menjadi milik pelumba veteran Hong Kong, Wong Kam Po yang menjadi pelumba Asia pertama menang peringkat di LTDL.

Namun sejauh mana, dua tonggak Korea itu mampu berjaya atau sebaliknya, pasukan kebangsaan yang dipimpin pengurus Do Eun Chul kali ini, faktor itu banyak bergantung kepada kerjasama empat lagi pelumba yang disenaraikan iaitu Jang Kyung Gu, Jang Chan Jae, Choi Jong Gyun dan Yoo Ki Hong.

Keempat-empat pelumba ini yang menimba pengalaman dengan kelab berbeza di Korea dianggap akan memikul watak pembantu bagi Sung Baek dan Hyo Suk tetapi masih mampu mencipta kejutan berdasarkan rekod karier masing-masing, seperti Ki Hong yang mewakili Seoul Cycling sejak 2008 dan Chan Jae yang pernah menang Peringkat 2 Tour de Korea dalam kayuhan dari Peace Dam ke Union Bridge tahun lalu.

SENARAI PASUKAN

PENGURUS PASUKAN: DO Eun Chul

PELUMBA: JANG Kyung Gu; PARK Sung Baek; GONG Hyo Suk; CHOI Jong Gyun; JANG Chan Jae; YOO Ki Hong

Le Tour de Langkawi 2011 dianjurkan Kementerian Belia dan Sukan dengan kerjasama Persekutuan Kebangsaan Berbasikal Malaysia. Jelajah 2011 dijadual bermula pada 23 Januari hingga 1 Februari dengan jarak keseluruhan 1315.4 kilometer, meliputi 10 peringkat, bermula di Pulau Langkawi dan berakhir di Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur.

ends