THE TOUGHEST TEST YET FOR LE TOUR DE LANGKAWI

PUTRAJAYA, 22 December 2017 : The 22nd edition of Le Tour de Langakawi (LTdL) from 22nd February to 1st March 2017 will truly be seen as a year when the most evident switch towards the future of Asia biggest cycling event being secured, apart from the usual business of an exciting eight stages of racing on the cards.

While the economic situations threatens to take centrestage, the organisers Ciclista Sports Sdn Bhd and the Ministry of Youth and Sports Malaysia have ensured LTdL powers on through testing times with resilience.

Kicking off from the heartland of Malaysian cycling in the East Coast of the Peninsula, LTdL 2017 will take on a rare anti-clockwised route to the West, covering scenic and popular cycling routes which fans can easily relate to.

But there will be no easy days in the saddle this time around.

If Stage 1, a short 130km blast from Kuala Berang to Kuala Terengganu in Terengganu can expectedly present the sprinters with the early honours, the 208.1km Stage 2 will see the peloton start off massaged by coastal winds from the South China Sea, but end up across the Titiwangsa Range that splits the two coasts, with the finish in Gerik.

Stage 3 from Serdang (Kedah) to Pantai Remis may be short, but it will be tricky too with a rushing peloton expected to cover the 118km swiftly for another sprinters show in a bunch sprint.

Cameron Highlands again offers itself as the queen stage of the race, with a 174km route that starts in Seri Manjung, meaning the peloton will be stretched out, with the general classification battle taking centrestage.

Stage 5 will offer a touch of the traditional, with a 148.8km stage starting in Tapah and ending in what used to be the traditional setting for the grand finish of the race, the Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur.

The sixth day sees another race towards a traditional cycling hotbed, starting in Senawang and ending in Muar, Johor, before the penultimate stage sees the peloton head back towards the Klang Valley with a 148km stage from Malacca to Bandar Baru Bangi.

LTdL 2017 then ends with a parade from Setiawangsa in Kuala Lumpur, into the administrative capital of Putrajaya, where a six-lap procession around a 6km circuit awaits before the final finish line of this edition.

Minister of Youth and Sports YB Brigadier Jeneral Khairy Jamaluddin Abu Bakar admitted this edition to be full of challenges, but he remained confident that an exciting edition will nevertheless be delivered yet again.

"It will be a very challenging year in 2017, because the Ministry of Youth and Sports will be focused on the organisation of the Sea Games, which Malaysia is hosting," said YB Khairy.

"The ministry has had to cancel, postpone or reduce the budgets of other sporting events due to the focus and priority in terms of finances given to the Sea Games, but seeing the popularity of LTdL and its importance as a sports tourism event for the nation, we decided it has to continue, even with a reduced budget," he added.

Khairy said a decision was made upon discussion with Ciclista Sports Sdn Bhd, that despite the budget cuts and various cost-cutting measures, the quality of the race will not be jeopardised.

"Ciclista Sports also understands that for an event such as this to survive in the long run, it's funding has to be fully sourced from corporate sponsors and no longer rely on government funds," he said.

LTdL 2017 Chief Executive Officer Emir Abdul Jalal agreed that this could be the toughest edition yet in terms of the challenges faces in organising the event, but despite that, the standards and quality of the event will be maintained.

"This may be the toughest year ever for us to organise, given the current economic situation and the limited budget, but we will endeavour to deliver an equally exciting race for the fans and spectators," said Emir.

"We have been working towards fully corporatising the event for some time now and that focus will remain. We are fully focused towards getting corporate sponsors on board to bring the race forward into the future."

Emir said despite the budget cuts, the standards of the race will still adhere to requirements set by the International Cycling Union (UCI) as a 2.HC status event on the UCI Asia Tour calendar.

"Of course, budget cuts are budget cuts. It means we will not be able to put on a lavish race with too many luxuries. But the standards of organisation and the quality of racing will be maintained," said Emir.

Le Tour De Langkawi 2017 Route

Stage 1 -  Wed, 22 February 2017 : Kuala Berang - Kuala Terengganu (130 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 km)
Stage 5 -  Sun, 26 February 2017 : Tapah – Dataran Merdeka (148.8 km)
Stage 6 - Mon, 27 February 2017 : Senawang – Muar (176.3 km)
Stage 7 - Tues, 28 February 2017 : Bandaraya Melaka – Bandar Baru Bangi (148.8 km)
Stage 8 - Wed, 1 March 2017 : Setiawangsa – Putrajaya (121 km)
TOTAL DISTANCE : 1,225 km

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.

A HIGH SPEED OCCASION IN THE 21st EDITION OF LTdL

PUTRAJAYA, Tuesday 5th January 2016 : The 21st edition of Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) from February 24 to March 2 will be marked by a first ever grand finish in the historic city of Melaka, while an eight-stage race format will see teams preparing for another grueling challenge, this time on the West Coast of Peninsula Malaysia.

Minister of Youth and Sports YB Khairy Jamaluddin announced today that the 2016 race route will redefine LTdL as ‘Asia’s Ultimate Challenge’, a battleground where top 11 world class teams from Europe will compete against 11 of Asia’s best.

"Not only that, we are expecting exciting competition from all the riders. The composition of the route will test all aspects of their capabilities, it will be an open race until the very end, which will definitely keep the fans excited," said Khairy.

From the 165.5 kilometer first stage that starts in Kangar, Perlis and ends in Baling, Kedah where riders will be faced with a challenging Cat. 3 climb at Weng just 30km to the finish on February 24, followed by the 159.2km second stage that starts in Kulim and ends with the race's first visit to the Penang Island since 2004.

The peloton will enter the island through the Penang Second Bridge, Jambatan Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah and will be greeted with two grueling climbs on the island at Balik Pulau (Cat.4) and 0 to 200m gradient uphill at Teluk Bahang (Cat.3), the race will be marked by significant differences, offering significant opportunities particularly for a thrilling battle among sprinters.

For a second year running, renovation works at the summit of Genting Highlands will mean the race will not feature its famous queen stage again and this time the similarly grueling climb up Cameron Highlands will play its part as the decisive stage that can determine the overall winner.

After a short 107km Stage Three from Kuala Kangsar to Tapah on February 26, the following day will be where the protagonists for the overall title will surface in the 129.4km Stage Four from Dataran MBI in Ipoh to Tanah Rata in Cameron Highlands.

From Stage Five, which covers 149.9km from Tapah to the previous traditional grand finish Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur, it will be a matter of how well the yellow jersey holder from the finish in Cameron Highlands controls the race as it is set for an epic battle for the points classification with the sprinters having four more stages clear of massive climbs to do battle.

The 147.6km Stage Six will pay homage to the main sponsors of the race - the Youth and Sports Ministry of Malaysia - with a start at Wisma KBS in Putrajaya and a finish in Rembau, Negri Sembilan, the hometown and constituency of Youth and Sports Minister YB Khairy Jamaluddin. This stage will feature a run through popular cycling routes and four short but tricky climbs in Broga, Lenggeng, Bukit Putus and Bukit Miku.

Then, the penultimate stage will feature the longest route of this year's LTdL, covering 203.2km from Seremban to Parit Sulong, offering an unpredictable situation with tiring legs mixed among those still hungry to make a difference in the standings.

The final day of the race sees a start in Batu Pahat, Johor, covering 119.9km with three 8.3km loops along major attractions and through the narrow roads of the world famous Jonker Street before the finish in Dataran Pahlawan, Melaka.

LTdL 2016 chief executive officer Emir Abdul Jalal said with the profile of the race set this way, teams will likely line up with some climbers set for the battle for the overall title in Cameron Highlands, while many are expected to come prepared for battles in the flat finishes, which will offer spectators the unbeatable spectacle of bunch sprints.

"We can expect it to be a race for the spectators at the finish lines to enjoy. We can already visualize the peloton hitting top speed on a number of occasions," said Emir.

“Besides the route, we aim to re-position LTdL back to the top level of organization, the "excellent level of organisation" certificate was attained from 2010 to 2014 acknowledged by the International Cycling Union (UCI). “

“In terms of promotion, we will continue our collaboration with sports channel Eurosports. 8 hour Highlights of the race will be broadcasted in Eurosports Asia Pacific and 80 minutes in Eurosport 1, Eurosports 2 to over 100 countries at an estimation of 500 million viewers. Also with Internet TV site Cycling TV that has over a million subscribers worldwide.

Also present in the launching were Ministry of Youth and Sports Secretary General Datuk Jamil Bin Salleh, National Sports Council Director General Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail, Ministry of Defence Chief of Defence Forces Jeneral Tan Sri Zulkifeli Mohd Zin, Royal Malaysia Police Federal Traffic Chief YDH Tuan SAC Mohd Akhir Darus, Malaysian National Cycling Federation president Datuk Haji Abu Samah Abdul Wahab, state officials and tour sponsors.

Le Tour de Langkawi 2016 Route

STAGE 1, Wednesday 24^th February 2016 : Kangar – Baling (165.5km)

STAGE 2, Thursday 25^th February 2016 : Sungai Petani – Georgetown (159.8km)

STAGE 3, Friday 26^th February 2016 : Kulim – Kuala Kangsar (107km)

STAGE 4, Saturday 27^th February 2016 : Ipoh – Cameron Highlands (129.5km)

STAGE 5, Sunday 28^th February 2016 : Tapah – Kuala Lumpur (149.9km)

STAGE 6, Monday 29^th February 2016 : Putrajaya – Rembau (147.6km)

STAGE 7, Tuesday 1^st March 2016 : Seremban – Parit Sulong (203.2km)

STAGE 8, Wednesday 2^nd March 2016 : Batu Pahat – Melaka Loop (119.9km)

TOTAL DISTANCE : 1182.4km

For more details please visit : http://www.ltdl.com.my/index.asp

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