JELAJAH MALAYSIA IS BACK

YB Khairy Jamaluddin, Youth and Sports Minister of Malaysia addresses the guests and media.

YB Khairy officiates the launch of Jelajah Malaysia 2016.

KUALA LUMPUR, Thursday, 15^th September 2016 : The Jelajah Malaysia returns with it's 2016 edition set to feature 20 teams from throughout the Asia Pacific region in a five-stage race scheduled from October 18 to 22 covering six states on Peninsula Malaysia.

Leading the charge this time will be Malaysia's top team Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG), who are currently fifth in the UCI Asia Tour overall teams rankings and will be taking on some of the best teams in the continental series in the form of star-studded United Arab Emirates outfit Skydive Dubai, Iran's Pishgaman team, South Korea's KSPO and Indonesia's Pegasus Cycling Team.

In all, eight of the 21 teams that make up the start list of this edition of Asia's oldest cycling tour, with Malaysia also represented by the NSC-Mycron team, the Malaysian national team, Armed Forces, PDRM, KLCA, Terengganu and Kedah.

Making their Jelajah Malaysia debuts will be Laos-registered UCI Continental team Black Inc Cycling Team, Australia's Data #3 Cisco and Indonesia's KFC Cycling Team, with the Indonesian national team making their return alongside the Hong Kong national team, Japan's Kinan Cycling Team, 7 Eleven Sava RVP of the Philippines and Tabriz Shadari of Iran.

Launched by Youth and Sports Minister Yang Berhormat Encik Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar today, the race will bring the peloton from the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur through Selangor, Kelantan, Perak, Terengganu and Pahang, visiting 10 different start and finish venues along the way.

Organised by the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF), with endorsement of the Youth and Sports Ministry and the National Sports Council (NSC), this edition of the Jelajah Malaysia is again managed by Peloton Resources with Gerakan Belia Gagasan 1Malaysia (GBG1M) as event partner.

The Jelajah Malaysia 2016 is sanctioned by the International Cycling Union (UCI) as a 2.2 status event on the UCI Asia Tour calendar and aims to be a platform for the overall development of cycling in the region.

Jelajah Malaysia is Asia's first international cycling stage race, initiated by the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC) upon its establishment by founder Mr Gurchan Singh Gill in 1963 as a platform for the training and preparation of Asian cyclists competing in the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

JELAJAH MALAYSIA 2016 ROUTE

STAGE 1, 18 Oct 2016 :        Kuala Lumpur – Ipoh (206.6km)

STAGE 2, 19 Oct 2016 :        Infoternak Sungai Siput – Brinchang (108.7km)

STAGE 3, 20 Oct 2016 :        Gua Musang – Pasir Puteh (163km)

STAGE 4, 21 Oct 2016 :        Machang – Gong Badak (124.8km)

STAGE 5, 22 Oct 2016 :        Kemaman – Kuala Terengganu (147.1km)

TOTAL DISTANCE : 750.2km

The jerseys in contention being presented.

YB Khairy Jamaluddin answers questions from the media.

MANCEBO CLINCHES JELAJAH MALAYSIA OVERALL WIN

Anuar and Andrea goes head to head

Stage 5 winners

Overall Team & Overall Asian Team Classification winner Skydive Dubai

Jersey winners of Jelajah Malaysia 2015

KUALA LUMPUR, Sunday 13 December 2015 : As many had expected, Francisco Mancebo held steady to bag the overall win at the Jelajah Malaysia today while local hero Anuar Manan gave fans much to cheer as he romped to another stage win on home soil.

TSG's Anuar finished the final stage, which covered 47KM from Shah Alam to Dataran Merdeka, in 59 minutes and 37 seconds, outsprinting Italian Andrea Palini (Skydive Dubai) to victory as Seo Joon Yong (KSPO) came in third.

Mancebo (Skydive Dubai) finished 38th, but in the same group as Anuar it was enough to secure him the yellow jersey as he topped the general classification with a total time of 9:48:30s.

Palini and Cheung King Lok (Hong Kong National Team) finished second and third overall.

Mancebo said he was happy to get the job done and is looking forward to defending his title next year.

"At last we can keep the yellow jersey. It has been a tough week of racing and I want to thank the team for helping me achieve this," said Mancebo, who also won the Tour of Egypt this year.

"We stuck to our plan and although we could not get Palini the stage win, it was a good day.

"Although we had some problems this year, it was a good event and I am hopeful that we can come back and race here again next season."

Anuar, who won the third stage on Friday, said: " We knew this stage would be suitable for sprinters and I expected myself Harrif Saleh and Palini to fight for the win."

"At the end it was very close with Palini and I feel a bit lucky to have won. Overall, I am very happy with my performance and as well as how the team did this year."

Palini bagged the overall points classification title (blue jersey) while Nur Amirul Fakhruddin Mazuki (TSG) had in stage four taken the red jersey. 

Skydive Dubai took both the general and Asian team classification titles while Kim Okcheol (Korea National Team) won the best young rider category (white jersey) overall title.

Jelajah Malaysia covered a total distance of 435 KM over five stages this year.

The Jelajah Malaysia 2015 is held from 9th to 13th December and is a UCI sanctioned 2.2 class race, organised by the Malaysian National Cycling Federation and managed by Peloton Resources.

SKYDIVE TURN UP THE HEAT

Leaders after stage 4, Andrea Palini takes over the Blue jersey from teammate Francisco Mancebo

Adrea Palini wins stage 4

Stage 4 winners

PUTRAJAYA, Saturday 12 December 2015 : Skydive Dubai strengthened their grip on the tour as Andrea Palini notched his first Jelajah Malaysia stage win and teammate Francisco Mancebo maintained a comfortable lead in the general classification in the penultimate stage today.
Palini took the win in two hours, 42 minutes and 29 seconds with Team Hong Kong's Leung Chun Wing and Indonesian Arin Iswana (Pegasus Continental Cycling Team) finishing second and third in the sprint finish.

The Italian said he was delighted to notch the win in a stage he considers to be the toughest so far in the tour. 

The fourth stage saw riders covering 115.3KM. The race started at Berjaya Times Square and passed through hill sections in Ampang, Hulu Langat and Semenyih before ending in Putrajaya.

"It was a very difficult race, we had to work really hard in the beginning and after the climbs," said Palini.

"Towards the end I had two of my teammates with me and they did a great job to help setup for the sprint.

"I am very happy as we have two jerseys now and hopefully we can continue doing well tomorrow."

Palini's win saw him take charge of the blue jersey (points classification) with a total of 26 points. Korean Park Sung Baek (KSPO) and Mancebo are second and third with 25 and 18 points respectively.

Mancebo, who finished the stage in 23rd in the same group as Palini, retained the yellow jersey with a total time of 8:48:53s. Palini moved up to second while Team Hong Kong's Cheung King Lok is third with the duo 1:23s and 1:26s adrift of the Spaniard.

Mancebo said he is optimistic of closing out the win in the final stage tomorrow.

"It was very tough today, everybody attacked but we managed to get the results we wanted," said Mancebo.

"I am happy we could keep up and hopefully we can do the same tomorrow. It is definitely my goal to win the overall title."

With no points on offer in the final stage, Terengganu Cycling Team's (TSG) Nur Amirul Fakhruddin Mazuki secured the overall King of Mountains (red jersey) title after another crossing the line first at the Ampang lookout point, the first KOM point of the day.

Amirul ended the mountains classification tied on 14 points together with Iran's Hamid Beikkhormizi (Pishgaman Giant Team) but was awarded the overall win as he had finished first at more mountain points then the latter.

Aussie Jai Crawford (Kinan Cycling Team) came in third on eight points.

Amirul said: "This is my second red jersey win after Tour of Sharjah and I am very happy as it is the first time I have done it at Jelajah Malaysia."

"At the end it was very close but I believe I won it fairly. It was a really tough competition as the riders from Iran and Philippines are very strong."

The fifth and final stage of Jelajah Malaysia will see riders starting at the Proton Centre of Excellence in Shah Alam and ending at Dataran Merdeka, covering a total distance of 47KM.

The Jelajah Malaysia 2015 is held from 9th to 13th December and is a UCI sanctioned 2.2 class race, organised by the Malaysian National Cycling Federation and managed by Peloton Resources.

ANUAR ROMPS TO THIRD STAGE WIN

Anuar celebrates his win on stage 4

Stage 4 winners

No changes to the leaders

PUTRAJAYA, Friday 11 December 2015 : Anuar Manan proved he is still a forced to be reckoned with after powering to victory in the third stage of Jelajah Malaysia today as Spaniard Francisco Mancebo remained the man to beat in the general classification.

The Terengganu Cycling Team rider crossed the finish line in a time of two hours, 14 minutes and 58 seconds while teammate Harrif Saleh came in third in the sprint finish. 

Korean Park Sung Baek of KSPO took second while Mancebo came in 27th in the same group. The third stage started in Bangi and passed through Nilai and Salak Tinggi before finishing in Putrajaya, covering a total distance of 103.3km.

Anuar was delighted with the result and is eyeing another stage win in the tour.

"Although the team had expected us (sprinters) to do well today I did not expect to win this stage as my focus was on helping my teammates do well in the king of mountains classification and the intermediate sprint," said the 29-year-old.

"This is my 11th stage win in Jelajah Malaysia since my first (Jelajah Malaysia) in 2007 so I am very happy, especially as I had been struggling with a back injury prior to this.

"The team did a great job as well and they deserve the credit too.

"We still have another two stages and hopefully we can win another stage, maybe on Sunday."

Mancebo, who leads the GC with a total time of 6:06:24s, said he is hoping to do well in the fourth stage tomorrow which will see riders covering 115.3KM. The race will start at Berjaya Times Square and pass through hill sections in Ampang, Hulu Langat and Semenyih before ending in Putrajaya.

"Our plan was to keep the yellow jersey today and I am happy that we managed to do as the pace was very fast from the start," said Skydive Dubai rider.

"The stage tomorrow will be slightly longer with some hill sections and I believe it will be good for me. My focus is on winning the GC but there are also other good riders I have to be careful of."

Skydive teammate Andrea Palini is currently third overall while Cheung King Lok of Team Hong Kong is second, 1:33s and 1:26s behind Mancebo. TSG's Nur Amirul Fakhruddin Mazuki continues to lead the mountains classification (red jersey) with eight points.

The Jelajah Malaysia 2015 is held from 9th to 13th December and is a UCI sanctioned 2.2 class race, organised by the Malaysian National Cycling Federation and managed by Peloton Resources.

SKYDIVE DUBAI EASE TO TEAM TIME TRIAL WIN

Skydive Dubai team in full speed

Skydive Dubai takes first place

Pishgaman Giant in second place

Team Hong Kong China in third

The jersey leaders after stage 2

PUTRAJAYA: Team Skydive Dubai were again the stand out team in Jelajah Malaysia as they romped to victory in the team time trial event today and keep Francisco Mancebo in a comfortable position at the top of the overall standings.

Andrea Palini, Mancebo, Soufiane Haddi and Sultan Alhammadi completed the 16.5km stage in a time of 19 minutes 43 seconds, riding at an average pace of 50.21kph.

Pishgaman Giant Team and the Hong Kong national team came in second and third as both clocked 20 minutes and three seconds.

Pishgaman were represented by Mahdi Rajabikaboodcheshmeh, Ariyan Behnam, Seyed Moezeddin Seyed Rezai Khourmazi, Hamid Beikkhormizi and Rezavi Naser while Cheung King Lok, Leung Chun Wing, Ko Siu Wai, Leung Ka Yu, Ho Burr and Cheung King Wai did the job for Hong Kong.

Mancebo said he was happy to keep the yellow jersey and is hoping to further lengthen his lead tomorrow.

"I am happy we won again today and kept the yellow jersey. We stuck to our plan, the time trial is never easy," said Mancebo.

"It is our first team time trial in some time and you need experience to do well in this (team time trial). 

"It was quite a fast course as there were only three corners and we averaged about 50km.

"I think we started a bit fast and the comeback in last six, seven KM was hard, but I am glad we still won.

"It is good to add 20 seconds to my lead, the Hong Kong rider (Cheung King Lok) is also strong so I have to be careful with him.

"For tomorrow we are confident to keep the yellow jersey and will work for that, it is definitely our goal."

Mancebo retained the yellow as well as the blue jersey (points classification) with a total time of 3:51:26s and 18 points. King Lok is second, 1:26s behind Mancebo in the GC and also second in the points classification, only a point adrift.

Anuar Manan, Saiful Anuar Mohd Aziz, Nur Amirul Fakhruddin Mazuki, Adiq Husainie Othman notched 20:34s to see Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) place sixth in the time trial as the fastest Malaysian team on the day.

With no points in the mountains classification on offer today, Amirul will continue to wear the red jersey tomorrow while Kim Okcheol (Korea National Team) also kept the white jersey (best young rider) with a total time of 3:53:22s.

Amirul said: "My goal tomorrow will be to keep the red jersey. I think am a bit far behind already to think about the GC so that (mountains classification) will be my focus."

"As I have said before, I believe it will be tough to keep as the riders from Pishgaman and Team 7-Eleven Roadbikes Philippines are also good climbers."

The third stage tomorrow, which covers a total distance of 103.3km, will see riders starting in Bangi and moving through Nilai and Salak Tinggi before finishing in Putrajaya.

The Jelajah Malaysia 2015 is scheduled held from 9th to 13th December and is a UCI sanctioned 2.2 class race, organised by the Malaysian National Cycling Federation and managed by Peloton Resources.

MANCEBO SETS THE EARLY PACE AT JELAJAH MALAYSIA

Francisco Mancebo takes stage 1

Stage 1 podium

Jersey leaders after stage 1

PUTRAJAYA, 9 December 2015 : Spaniard Francisco Mancebo stormed to an early lead at Jelajah Malaysia with a commanding opening stage performance today which left many riders in awe of his capabilities.

The Skydive Dubai rider took the stage win in a time of three hours, 31 minutes and 55 seconds on a day which saw riders cover 159KM starting from Menara DBKL in the heart of the city through Selayang, Rawang and Kapar before finishing in Putrajaya.

In addition to leading the general classification, Mancebo's performance also places him in the lead in the points classification (blue jersey).

Team Hong Kong's Cheung King Lok (1:03s behind Mancebo) and Marcelo Felipe (Team 7 Eleven Roadbike Philippines) came in second and third on the same time.

The 39-year-old, a former Vuelta a Espana stage winner, however, downplayed his performance.

"It is normal for the first stage to be tough and you could lose the race (tour) on the first day itself if you are not careful," said Mancebo.

"I am happy as I managed a good breakaway with 28 other riders (after Batu Arang) and pulled away on my own at the end to win it. It was not easy but there are also other riders in our team who are capable of winning stages.

"I now have a good gap over the second place rider and I am looking forward to the next stage."

Shaiful Anuar Aziz of Terengganu Cycling Team was the best Malaysian on the day as he finished fifth on 3:33:16s while his teammate Nur Amirul Fakhruddin Mazuki did well to lead the climbers classification (red jersey) after winning both mountain points at Bukit Templer and Batu Arang.

Nur Amirul said: "It was good to get the win. It was not something I expected to do as I am still fatigued from competing at the Tour of Sharjah.

"I expect it (King of Mountains classification) to get tougher from here as there are a lot of good climbers, especially from Pishgaman Giant Team."

Putrajaya will host the second stage of Jelajah Malaysia which will see riders competing in the 16.5KM team time trial.

The Jelajah Malaysia 2015 is scheduled to be held from 9^th to 13^th December and is a UCI sanctioned 2.2 class race, organised by the Malaysian National Cycling Federation and managed by Peloton Resources.

INTRIGUING BATTLE SET FOR THE OVERALL TITLE IN JELAJAH MALAYSIA 2015

Jelajah Malaysia 2014 Jersey winners

The peloton riding out on the final stage

KUALA LUMPUR, 7 December 2015 : Defending champion Rafaa Chtioui returns to lead his Skydive Dubai team which is set on a collision course with Iran's Pishgaman Giant Team and Indonesia's Pegasus Cycling Team in what is expected to be an intriguing battle for the overall title in Jelajah Malaysia 2015.

Tunisia's Chtioui will want to repeat his resounding success when he became the first African rider to win the Jelajah Malaysia overall title last year, again backed by his energetic and versatile teammate Soufianne Haddi of Morocco in a team that includes Spanish veteran Francisco Mancebo, former Spanish national champion and podium finisher in the Vuelta a Espana in a formidable Skydive Dubai line-up.

But it won't be an easy ride to victory this time with Pishgaman lining up former Asian champion and Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) Asian riders classification winner Hossein Askari, a veteran of many victories on Malaysian soil, who will be backed by a squad that includes fellow-veteran Amir Zargari.

The onus is on Askari this time, as the 40-year old is chasing the UCI Asia Tour overall individual title. He currently sits in third in the rankings with 335 points and is 43 points behind compatriot and former teammate Mirsamad Pourseyedigolakhour of the Tabriz Petrochemical team.

Pishgaman will also want to extend their lead in the UCI Asia Tour teams classification, in which they now hold a 236-point lead over Tabriz.

But the threat posed by the lively Pegasus team should not be discounted, with the Indonesian outfit already proving their worth when they won the overall teams classification in LTdL earlier this year. They will again count on last year's Jelajah Malaysia overall Asian riders classification winner Dani Lesmana to deliver.

The startlist shows a healthy line-up of potential winners and sprinters, including the likes of Australia's Jai Crawford, who now leads the Japanese outfit Kinan Cycling Team.

Hosts Malaysia's challenge will be led by the Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG), who will be out to retain the green jersey won by Harrif Salleh last year. The TSG outfit will also line up star sprinter Anuar Manan and former World Junior Track  Championships bronze medallist Adiq Husainie Othman, who will be racing just days after his wedding.

Malaysia will also look to the NSC Cycling Team (NSC), who will be on a strong vein of form with Nik Mohd Azwan Zulkifle coming straight from his overall victory in the Tour de Siak in Indonesia last week.

The Jelajah Malaysia 2015 is scheduled to be held from 9^th to 13^th December and is a UCI sanctioned 2.2 class race, organised by the Malaysian National Cycling Federation and managed by Peloton Resources.