23 December 2011, KUALA LUMPUR - The US-registered Pro Continental team UnitedHealthcare will make their second appearance at Le Tour de Langkawi from February 24 to March 4.
The Malaysian event marked their debut in the second division of world cycling and it was a successful one. “We had a strong showing with a stage win and several podiums”, said team manager Mike Tamayo. German sprinter Robert Forster scored the first success for his new outfit after spending eight seasons on the European top level circuit. With Gerolsteiner and Milram, he rode no less than thirteen Grand Tours: eight Giro d’Italia with a stage win in 2007, three Tour de France and two Vuelta a Espana.
“It was one of the highlights of the past edition of Le Tour de Langkawi when Forster won stage 8 in Jasin”, commented the chief operating officer Emir Abdul Jalal. “A sprinter with prestigious wins under his belt, he showed the young guns Andrea Guardini and Marcel Kittel that he was still one of the fastest cyclists in the world, so we’re delighted to welcome him and his team back. I’m sure that after their first experience in Malaysia, they’ll be even stronger this time around.”
Tamayo confirmed their increased ambitions. “Team UnitedHealthcare is honored and very motivated about the 2012 Le Tour de Langkawi”, he said. “We are aware of the growth of the race and cycling in Malaysia but we plan on bigger success at the 2012 edition of the race.”
They have put a stronger team at the service of Forster with the expertise of the Australian trio of lead out men Karl Menzies and the Clarke brothers who are no strangers to Le Tour de Langkawi after having ridden the race with different teams in the past.
At the 2011 Le Tour de Langkawi, Team UnitedHealthcare got to know the famous Belgian directeur sportif Hendrik Redant who was the radio Tour officer and they hired him for what is his real job, as they intend to improve their presence on the European scene as well.
LTdL 2012 is organised by the National Sports Council as a mark of continuity to the organisation of the Ministry of Youth and Sports in 2010 and 2011 in collaboration with the Malaysian National Cycling Federation. The race maintains a 2.HC (Hors Classe) status and is recognised and sanctioned by the UCI and UCI Asia Tour. LTdL 2012 is expected to feature 22 professional teams.
The 10 day race begins on February 24 with Individual time trial along a 20.3 km course in Putrajaya to kick off the race; followed by stage 2 Putrajaya - Melaka (151.0km); Stage 3 Ayer Keroh - Parit Sulong (187.6km); Batu Pahat - Muar (169.4km); Ayer Keroh - Pandan Indah (187.2km); Proton Shah Alam - Genting Highlands (108km); Bentong - Kuantan (215.8km); Pekan - Chukai (100.8km); Kemasik - Kuala Terengganu (169.4km) dan Tasik Kenyir - Kuala Terengganu (116.6km).
THE UNITEDHEALTHCARE TEAM FOR THE 2012 LE TOUR DE LANGKAWI:
ROBERT FORSTER (GER), HILTON CLARKE (AUS), JONATHAN CLARKE (AUS), ADRIAN HEGYVARI (USA), JAKE KEOUGH (USA) and KARL MENZIES (AUS)
-Ends -
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