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.

2,000 CYCLISTS THRONG CITY CENTRE FOR 42KM OCBC CYCLE KL 2015

Kuala Lumpur, 8 November 2015 – About 2,000 cyclists from all walks of life converged in the heart of Kuala Lumpur this morning for the challenging 42km OCBC Cycle KL 2015 ride which saw them cycling past some of the capital’s most iconic landmarks. 

The route, featuring five loops round an 8.4km stretch of city roads, flagged off at Dataran Merdeka and took riders through Jalan Raja Laut, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Jalan Ampang and Jalan P Ramlee, before getting back onto Jalan Ampang and heading into Jalan Dang Wangi, Jalan Tunku Abdul Rahman, Jalan Raja and Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin. The route then featured a bend through the National Mosque roundabout before participants headed back to Dataran Merdeka.

OCBC Cycle KL 2015 is title-sponsored by OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad and organised by Multigreen Events. It is part of the ASEAN Cycle Fest, which is supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Malaysian National Cycling Federation.

ASEAN Cycle Fest also featured an hour-long criterium for elite riders from ASEAN. 

Speaking at the event, OCBC Al-Amin Bank Berhad Director & CEO Syed Abdull Aziz Syed Kechik, who also participated, said the ride was a fitting carry-through from OCBC KL Car Free Morning, which is also title-sponsored by OCBC Bank.

“The thinking behind OCBC Cycle KL 2015 draws from both OCBC Bank’s experience as title sponsor of the highly popular OCBC Cycle Malaysia over the past four years and also the introduction of the OCBC KL Car Free Morning last year.

“When we began our journey in sponsoring cycling events in Malaysia back in 2011, there was no KL Car Free Morning and mass participation cycling was in its infancy. So, we invested significantly to become part of an initiative to offer rides for everyone regardless of riding experience and age. Now, with the introduction and our title sponsorship of KL Car Free Morning, we are already catering to the needs of the leisure cyclists and children among us. 

“So, it is with this in mind that we put together the 42km OCBC Cycle KL 2015, for the more competitive cyclists among us. We are pleased with the significant turnout today and trust everyone had a fantastic experience,” he said.

In addition to OCBC Cycle KL 2015, the public had an eye-fest when the top sprinters of Southeast Asia congregated to compete at speeds that are rarely seen in the city centre.

Apart from OCBC Cycle KL 2015 title sponsor OCBC Bank, other sponsors of the Asean Cycle Fest included Genting Malaysia Berhad (main sponsor), Le Coq Sportif (official cycling musette), 100Plus, Ciclista, Sunplay, Rocktape, Deep Heating Rub, FOX, Motoshoot Cycling TV, Garmin and Inno Car Rack, Great Eastern, Phiten, Cycling Express, Bertoni Eyewear Italy and Vittoria (neutral service provider).

The event also brought together various players in the region involved in cycling, cycle-related supplies, sports clothing, bicycles, bicycle equipment and tools and so forth who participated in a Bike Mart at Dataran Merdeka Underground. 

RESULTS – Day 3

ASEAN SPRINT KING

11.     2701 – Mohd Hariff Salleh (TSG) – 1:04:32

22.     2377 – Sofian Nabil Omar (MAS) – 1:04:33:247

33.     2374 – Cik KuNazmi b. Cik Gu Ramli (TSG) - 1:04:33:264

OCBC CYCLE KL

ROAD BIKE

11.     1120 – Masanori Nishahama – 1:04:35

22.     1195 – Khairil Fahmi Zainal – 1:08:59

33.     1349 –  Jack Loo Sze Kit - 1:09:07.427

MOUNTAIN BIKE

11.     2395 – 1:04:35

22.     1430 – Mohd Samsol Jailan –1:09:08

33.     2434 – Mohd Danny – 1:09:08

FOLDING BIKE

11.     1990 – Sam Goh - 1:08:02

22.     1087 – Vin Ping Loo - 1:10:45

33.     2010 – Wan Amril Nurman - 1:22:31

LAUNCHING OF ASEAN CYCLE FEST & OCBC CYCLE KL 2015

Inaugural Fest to feature hour-long criterium for elite ASEAN riders to Battle for ASEAN SPRINT KING TITLE and 42km ride for serious cyclists in the Kuala Lumpur Golden Triangle

Kuala Lumpur, 17 September 2015 – ASEAN Cycle Fest, which takes place from 6 - 8 November 2015, will feature an hour-long criterium for elite riders from ASEAN Countries to battle for the ASEAN Sprint King Title and a challenging 42km route for serious cyclists on closed roads in the city centre as a climax to the three day event on Sunday 8th November, 2015.

Announcing this today, ASEAN Director General of the Malaysian ASEAN National Secretariat, Dato’ Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob said the three-day cycling festival centred at Dataran Merdeka aims to bring together more than 50 of the top elite cyclists from the ASEAN region for the hour-long ASEAN Sprint King and another 3,000 serious riders for the 42km OCBC Cycle KL on Sunday (8 November).

He added the programme aims, among others, to strengthen the unity among ASEAN countries by bringing together the various players in the region involved in cycling, cycle-related supplies, sports clothing, bicycles, bicycle equipment and tools and so forth.

The ASEAN Cycle Fest is managed by Multigreen Events, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kuala Lumpur City Hall and the Malaysian National Cycling Federation. The title sponsor for the 42km ride, OCBC Cycle KL 2015, is OCBC Bank (Malaysia) Berhad.

“The public will have an eye-fest when the top sprinters of Southeast Asia congregates right here in Kuala Lumpur to compete at speeds that are rarely seen in the city centre.

In addition, OCBC Cycle KL 2015 will provide the opportunity for both leisure cyclists and those on the lookout for a greater challenge to participate in a highly competitive 42km ride that is sponsored by OCBC Bank. This represents a natural progression from the highly successful Kuala Lumpur Car Free Morning, which is title-sponsored by OCBC Bank and held on closed roads every first and third Sunday of the month,” said Y Bhg Datuk Prof. Hj Naim Mohamad, Chairman of the Implementation Committee of the ASEAN Cycle Fest.

He added that those wishing to sign up for the ASEAN Cycle Fest and OCBC Cycle KL 2015 may do so via www.aseancyclefest.com

Elaborating on the thinking behind OCBC Cycle KL, OCBC Al-Amin Director & CEO   Syed Abdull Aziz Syed Kechik said the event draws from both the Bank’s experience as title sponsor of the highly popular OCBC Cycle Malaysia over the past four years and also the introduction of the KL Car Free Morning last year.

“When we began our journey in sponsoring cycling events in Malaysia back in 2011, there was no KL Car Free Morning and mass participation cycling was in its infancy. So, we invested significantly to become part of an initiative to offer rides for everyone regardless of riding experience and age. Now, with the introduction and our title sponsorship of KL Car Free Morning, we are already catering to the needs of the leisure cyclists and children among us.

“However, KL Car Free Morning, by design, does not offer the avenue for competitive cyclists to test themselves. So, it is with this in mind that we put together the 42km OCBC Cycle KL, for the more competitive cyclists among us.

“We are looking forward to providing a fantastic experience for the cycling community come 8 November 2015 and we hope a healthy spirit of competition will stream from the participants that morning,” he said.

Apart from OCBC Cycle KL 2015 title sponsor OCBC Bank, the ASEAN Cycle Fest will be supported by other sponsors including 100Plus, Ciclista, Sunplay, Rocktape, Cycling Malaysia, motoSHOOT Cycling TV and Inno, with several more to be unveiled in the month ahead.

OVER 200 EXIBITORS TO PARTICIPATE AT THE 26TH MALAYSIA INTERNATIONAL SIGN & LED 2015

(L-R) Esther Ooi, Mandy Chong, Dato’ Chong Chong Tik, Datuk Naim Mohamad, Puan Sri Datin Seri Dr Susan S C Cheah and Datin Chong.

PUTRA WORLD TRADE CENTRE, KUALA LUMPUR (26 May 2015) - The Sign and LED Exhibition in Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) from the 11th June to 14th June, 2015 is the 26th Exhibition successfully organized by ES Event Management Sdn Bhd with the support of PROMAS (Malaysia Promas International Business Society), Malaysia Chinese Women Entrepreneurs Association (MCWEA) and PERDASAMA (Malay Businessman and Industrialists Association of Malaysia).

In announcing the exhibition this morning in Pahang Room, PWTC, ES Event Management Sdn Bhd Managing Director Dato’ Chong Chong Tik informed that there will be 210 exhibitors participating in the show coming from China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Germany, Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia. Last year the exhibition attracted 11,000 visitors, and with the latest digital printing and signage technology on show, we expect more visitors to come this year.

Puan Sri Datin Seri Dr Susan S C Cheah, President of Malaysia Chinese Women Entrepreneurs Association welcomed participation from Malaysian Entrepreneurs and reaffirms that Entrepreneurs will benefit in visiting the exhibition to promote their business with the latest technology in SIGNS and LED.

Datuk Naim Mohamad, Vice President of PERDASAMA, who also officiated at the press conference, congratulates Dato’ Chong Chong Tik for successfully organizing the event for the 26th year and thank the organisers for giving an opening to Malay Businessman and Industrialists to participate.

Datuk Naim Mohamad added that the digital printing technology has been expanding rapidly and that Malaysians must keep abreast to reap the full benefits in this sector. “Since the show is in town and the exhibitors are here, Malaysian entrepreneurs and Malaysian public will need to come to PWTC only to see what is displayed. If we were to visit producers and manufacturers at their office and sites in their countries, it can be very costly. Malaysians will save by visiting this exhibition here in Kuala Lumpur.”

The SIGN and LED (light emitting diode) exhibition is endorsed by MATRADE (Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation Berhad) and the official opening ceremony to be officiated by Honourable Datuk Ir Hamim bin Samuri, Deputy Minister of International Trade and Industry (MITI).

The exhibition will be held on the 11 to 14th June 2015 at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) from 10:30 am to 6:00 pm, event information can be found at www.malaysiasign.com.my, call +603 9132 1922 or email info@malaysiasign.com.my for further inquiries.

TOP SCORER GUARDINI TO FACE YOUNGER SPRINTERS AT LTDL

LTdL Sprint King Andrea Guardini returns to add more to his stage record.

KUALA LUMPUR, 10 FEBRUARY 2015 - Andrea Guardini will tackle the Le Tour de Langkawi for the fifth consecutive time when the race will kick off on Malaysia’s paradisiacal island on March 8 (to be concluded in Kuala Lumpur on March 15), a place that has remained close to his heart.

“I’ll never forget that I started my pro cycling career in Langkawi and I got my first victory on day 1 in Langkawi”, said the Italian sprinter from the Astana team. That day, 23rd January 2011, Guardini started his incredible conquest of fourteen stage victories in four editions of the event. He definitely tops the tally, followed by Australia’s Graeme Brown who won nine stages from 2002 to 2005. He also holds the record of stage wins in one single LTdL with six in 2012.

Guardini, now 25, is a top sprinter with World Tour wins under his belt, at the 2012 Giro d’Italia and the 2014 Eneco Tour. He’s still young but he already faces the competition of younger fast riders eager to edge him out and take over from him in the tradition of LTdL as a champions making factory. 

“I’m very aware of the qualities of Caleb Ewan and Jakub Mareczko”, said Guardini of the two 20-year old who will make their debut at LTdL this year. “I know Mareczko, he’s from Brescia, not far from my hometown, he’s already a very good sprinter. He has won two stages in Venezuela [at the Vuelta Tachira] in January.”

Mareczko, also a Polish-born Italian who migrated with his mother when he was five years old, rides for Guardini’s old team previously known as Farnese Vini and now renamed Southeast, while Ewan, an Australian whose mother migrated from Seoul, Korea, to Sydney, won two stages for Orica-GreenEdge at the Herald Sun Tour last week.

Astana will also bring a 20-year old promising cyclist to Malaysia but he’s a climber: Miguel Angel Lopez is the Colombian winner of the 2014 Tour de l’Avenir – the U23 version of the Tour de France. He might well be this year’s sensation atop Genting Highlands.

“Astana is one of the favorite teams of Malaysian cycling fans”, said the CEO of the 2015 Le Tour de Langkawi Datuk Malik Mydin. “It’s the only World Team from Asia so our race perfectly fits in their philosophy to bridge Europe and Asia throughout the sport of cycling. It’s the winning team of the Tour de France with Vincenzo Nibali last year and they return to Malaysia with a line-up we like very much: a top sprinter, a top climber in the making and four Kazakhs riders including Aleksandr Dyachenko who finished fourth and won the Asian individual classification three years ago. They are the favorites for the Asian team classification this time around.”

THE ASTANA TEAM FOR THE 2015 LE TOUR DE LANGKAWI: 

Andrea GUARDINI (Ita), Aleksandr DYACHENKO (Kaz), Miguel Angel LOPEZ (Col), Daniil FOMINYKH (Kaz), Maxat AYAZBAYEV (Kaz), Arman KAMYSHEV (Kaz).

RUSSIAN STAR PAVEL BRUTT BACK IN ACTION WITH TINKOFF-SAXO

Strong line-up for Tinkoff-Saxo

Pavel Brutt ready to rock LTdL 2015!

KUALA LUMPUR, Tuesday 3rd February 2015 - As Le Tour de Langkawi celebrates its twentieth edition, a moment to remember from its rich history will be stage 9 from Putrajaya to Seremban in 2007 when Pavel Brutt stormed to victory. The Russian versatile rider will be back in action on Malaysia’s paradisiacal island when the race will kick off on March 8 for an eight-day journey to Kuala Lumpur.

“That day remained one of the best memories of my cycling career”, Brutt commented. “It was hot and I was so exhausted from climbing up to Genting Highlands the day before that I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to complete the stage. But I ended up in the winning breakaway and I found the resources to attack from the front group and finish solo [7^th overall]. It was a historical moment for our team too.”

Eight years ago, LTdL invited the young Tinkoff Credit System that just registered as a Pro Continental team as it looked like being a team for the future. Brutt delivered their first ever victory in Malaysia. The Russian outfit eventually became Katusha in 2009. Brutt was their longest serving domestic rider until he moved to Tinkoff-Saxo during the last transfer window.

Russian millionaire Oleg Tinkoff bought the Saxo Bank team at the end of 2013.

“It’s wonderful to realize that such powerful people in cycling like Oleg and his team’s general manager Stefano Feltrin remember that Le Tour de Langkawi was the very first race organization of a UCI 2 H.C. event to invite them and they’re happy to come back now that they’re one of the world’s best teams if not the best”, noted the CEO of the 2015 LTdL Datuk Malik Mydin.

“We’ll have a very well balanced team for Le Tour de Langkawi”, said Brutt who will take part for the fourth time. “We aim for a top 5 overall with our Colombian climber Edward Beltran. We’ll go for the sprints with Michael Kolar who knows the race very well since last year [the Slovakian finished third in the points classification]. I intend to take part in many attacks and hopefully come up with another win like eight years ago.”

“Being new to this team, I want to show to the staff which kind of rider I am”, Brutt continued.

“I’ve started my season earlier than usual with the Santos Tour Down Under in Australia and I also have the Tour of Qatar on my program before I fly to Malaysia. I love my job more and more every year. This year I’d like to be part of a team that will win a Grand Tour with Alberto Contador.”

Brutt who already participated in eleven Grand Tours including the Tour de France three times showed his early season form by finishing fourth in the sixth and last stage of the Santos Tour Down Under.

THE TINKOFF-SAXO TEAM FOR THE 2015 LE TOUR DE LANGKAWI:

Edward BELTRAN (Col), Jesper HANSEN (Den), Pavel BRUTT (Rus), Michael KOLAR (Slk), Bruno PIRES (Por), Nikolay TRUSOV (Rus).

Organised by Human Voyage Sdn Bhd, the 20th edition of Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) from 8 to 15 March, 2015 is set to cover more than 1,000km over 8 stages, the UCI 2.HC (hors category) race featuring again as one of the biggest events on the UCI Asia Tour calendar.

‘KL RALLY DAY’ A SUCCESS!

KUALA LUMPUR - Exclusive organiser, Wheel Sport Management brought rally out of the plantations and onto the busy streets of the city with ‘KL Rally Day’, proving to be a success not only among locals but tourists.

The three competing teams - Proton Motorsports, Pennzoil GSR Racing Team, and MRU Motorsports created quite a commotion at Bukit Bintang, Sogo, Pusat Bandar Damansara, and Damansara Uptown with their attention grabbing cars and loud revs.

The parade was an effort by the organizers to expose the sport to the masses and also as a treat to the existent rally fans in Kuala Lumpur.

Reigning champion from the MRC 2010, Muhammad Rafiq Udhaya of team MRU Motorsports came with his Subaru Impreza WRX STi not only signed autographs for rally fans, he even explained rallying to interested members of the public.

While there were many who came forward to have their photos taken with the cars at pit stops, there were also many onlookers on the street as the cars drove past them.

You can look out for your pictures on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/malaysianrally and feel free to tag Malaysian Rally in your pictures of KL Rally Day.

Don’t forget to catch the opening round of the 2011 Asia Pacific Championship, which forms part of the 2011 Malaysian Rally Championship at the Plaza Angsana Johor Bahru and Tai Tak Estate in Kota Tinggi from April 1st until 3rd.

Wheel Sport Management would like to thank PKG, Proton, Naza, and Redberry for being a part of KL Rally Day. A big thank you also goes out to the media for supporting the event.

ACC Track Asia Cup 2010 (25th - 27th June)

Pulse Media was assigned for the ACC Track Asia Cup 2010, Malaysia Round held at Cheras Velodrome, Kuala Lumpur. The Opening Ceremony of ACC Track Asia Cup 2010 was officiated by Dato' Ahmad Shabery Bin Cheek, Minister of Youth and Sports at Olympic Hotel Kuala Lumpur, 24th June 2010.