Two and a half months before the start of the 2012 le Tour de Langkawi, race organisers have named another team for the event. The Terengganu Pro-Asia Cycling Team (TSG) will once again return to the race, and will have extra motivation in 2012 due to the fact that three of the stages will take part in its home region.
The squad finished eighth in the team standings last February, and took several high placings via Anuar Manan. The sprinter clocked up two second places and two thirds, while Mohamed Harrif Salleh was third on stage one.
Manan has moved to the new Champion System team, but the latter will be back in 2012 and will aim for a stage victory. “TSG is not aiming too high, but expects their riders including sprinter, Hariff Salleh who ranked eighth in the points classification in the last edition can make a surprise stage win and improve his overall position,” said the team’s CEO Mohd Sophian Abu Bakar.
"With only one difficult climb up Genting Highlands next year, TSG will get the opportunity to realize their stage victory in eight other stages. It is too early for us to set the strategy for the race at this time.”
He said that the team would undergo a training camp in January in order to build strong condition, possibly repeating last year’s venue of Chiang Mai, Thailand.
“What is important now is to ensure that the level of fitness of our riders are in excellent shape before the start of LTdL, from 24 February to 4 March,” he stated.
“It's too early to list the name of the riders as we are due to sign new contracts with the riders when the existing contract ends, but we hope to attract some new local and foreign riders to strengthen the team, especially in the climbs which was still our team’s weakness.”
One of those expected to remain with the team is the Japanese veteran Shinichi Fukushima.
The 2012 Tour de Langkawi will begin with a 20.3 kilometre time trial in Putrajaya on February 24. Stage six will be the top of the famous climb of Genting Highlands, while the final three stages will be held in Terengganu.
Previously confirmed squads include UCI ProTeam squads Garmin-Cervélo and Astana. The ten day race will once again be a 2.HC-ranked event.