SHAH ALAM, Wednesday 8 February 2017 : Terengganu's hosting of the grand start, along with the
opening two stages and a triple climb heading into the Stage 7 finish in Rembau
marks an even better remapped route for the 22nd edition of Le Tour de Langkawi
(LTdL), set to be held between February 22 and March 1.
In reality, the new route isn't too much of a shift from the initial route
announced in January, with among other significant changes being the
redirection of Stage 5 due to the unavailability of the Dataran Merdeka due to
Federal Territories Day celebrations being held there.
"We've had some tweaks to make, but the changes made actually
provides an opportunity for an even more exciting and unpredictable race,"
said LTdL 2017 chief executive officer Emir Abdul Jalal.
"Although there are some hints that the route had to be changed
as cost cutting measures, the matter has been sorted out between the organisers
and the state government and I would like to thank them for their continuous
support. Thus the pre-race events and the opening two stages will be held in
Terengganu," said Emir.
Overall, the race will cover a distance of 1,222.2 kilometres,
beginning with a 124.8km opening stage that starts in Kuala Berang and ends
with a circuit around the city of Kuala Terengganu.
Stage 2 will be the longest stage of the race this year, covering
three states over 208.1km from the start in Jerteh, Terengganu, before passing
through Kelantan and finishing after the scenic passing of the Titiwangsa Range
in Gerik, Perak.
The next day, the entourage heads to Serdang in Kedah for the start of
the third stage, which will be a the shortest stage of the Tour, ending after
118km in Pantai Remis. Stage 4 is then the decisive queen stage of the race,
with a start in Seri Manjung and finish atop Cameron Highlands after the
peloton covers 174.4km.
Stage 5 of the race brings the peloton into the
state of Selangor, with the finish in Kuala Kubu Baru coming 151.5km after the
start in Meru Jaya, with its undulations and twisty roads prospecting some
changes to the standings which would have been established after the Cameron
Highlands stage the day before.
The sixth stage sees a start in Negri Sembilan, where the peloton
heads South, covering 176.3km from a start in Senawang heading towards the
finish in Muar, Johor. Then comes the penultimate stage, which provides some
prospects of changes to the leadership with the peloton heading from a start in
Malacca into some tricky climbs in Gemencheh, Bukit Rokan and Bukit Miku over
the 148.1km stage before the finish in Rembau.
The final day's procession this year will see a 121km procession begin
in Setiawangsa, before the peloton heads into a loop around the administrative
capital of Putrajaya for the grand finish.
"The decision to go with this route
is to ensure that the race will be more exciting, where the battle for the
overall title will by no means be settled in Cameron Highlands. I expect it to
be stretched into the latter stages," said Emir.
Organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia and managed by
Ciclista Sports Sdn Bhd, the 22nd edition of Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) from 22
February to 1 March, 2017 is set to cover more than 1,200km over 8 stages, the
UCI 2.HC (hors category) race featuring again as one of the biggest events on
the UCI Asia Tour calendar.
Le Tour
de Langkawi 2017 Race Route
Stage 1
- Wed, 22 February 2017 : Kuala Berang - Kuala Terengganu (124.8 km)
Stage 2
- Thurs, 23 February 2017 : Jerteh
– Gerik (208.1 km)
Stage 3
- Fri, 24 February 2017 : Serdang – Pantai Remis (118 km)
Stage 4
- Sat, 25 February 2017 : Seri
Manjung – Cameron Highlands (174.4 km)
Stage 5
- Sun, 26 February 2017 : Meru
Raya – Kuala Kubu Bharu (151.5 km)
Stage 6 -
Mon, 27 February 2017 : Senawang – Muar (176.3 km)
Stage 7 -
Tues, 28 February 2017 : Melaka – Rembau (148.1 km)
Stage 8 -
Wed, 1 March 2017 : Setiawangsa – Putrajaya Loop (121 km)
TOTAL DISTANCE : 1,222.2 km
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