Tour de Langkawi

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The Tour de Langkawi is a stage race for cyclists in Malaysia and got its name from the island of Langkawi in the Andaman Sea .

The race is due to globalization and the search for sponsors for cycling , similar to Formula 1 or football , where new areas are also opened up. Financial problems repeatedly jeopardized the continued existence of the event between 2005 and 2007, which has, however, firmly established itself in the international racing calendar.

history

Langkawi island map

The race, which has been held since 1996 on the initiative of the then Prime Minister Tun Mahathir bin Mohamad , initially took place annually at the end of January or the beginning of February and usually comprised ten stages. Because of the financial difficulties, only seven stages are driven today (as of 2018). In 2010 the Tour de Langkawi was held for the first time in early March.

The royal stage traditionally takes place with a mountain arrival in the Genting Highlands . The climb there is over 30 kilometers long and ends at an altitude of 1700 meters above sea level. The final section leads every year to or through the capital Kuala Lumpur , where the famous Petronas Towers are also passed.

The tour is often used as a preparatory race by UCI World Teams , who then ride together with smaller cycling teams from Asia, Australia and America, because the climate in Europe is still quite rough. She has been part of the UCI Asia Tour since 2005 and is classified in the 2nd HC category. The first edition in 1996 was won by the Australian Damian McDonald . Italy is the most successful nation in the race with four overall victories by Italian drivers, followed by Colombia with three wins. The Colombian José Serpa and the Italian Paolo Lanfranchi each won the race twice.

Winners list

Web links