Tour de Langkawi

      Tour de Langkawi
      Race details
      Date February–March
      Region Peninsular Malaysia
      English name Tour of Langkawi
      Discipline Road
      Competition UCI Asia Tour 2.HC
      Type Stage race
      Organiser Malaysian National Cycling Federation
      History
      First edition 1996 (1996)
      Editions 18 (2013)
      First winner  Damian McDonald (AUS)
      Most wins  Paolo Lanfranchi (ITA)
       José Serpa (COL)
      (2 wins)
      Most recent  Julián Arredondo (COL)

      The Tour de Langkawi is an annual professional road bicycle racing stage race held in Malaysia, and named after Langkawi. The race was first organized in 1996 and has been held annually since its first edition in 1996. As the Tour gained prominence and popularity the race was lengthened and its reach began to extend around the globe. The Tour is usually held during February and March. The race usually consist of 10 day-long segment (stages) over 10 days. While the route changes each year, Genting Highlands destination always included. The race is sanctioned by the International Cycling Union (UCI) as a 2.HC (hors category) race as part of the UCI Asia Tour calendar.

      All of the stages are timed to the finish, after finishing the riders' times are compounded with their previous stage times. The rider with the lowest aggregate time is the leader of the race and gets to don the yellow jersey. While the general classification garners the most attention there are other contests held within the Tour: the points classification for the sprinters, the mountains classification for the climbers, Asian rider classification for the Asian rider, the team classification for the competing teams and the Asian team classification for the competing Asian teams. The 2013 edition of the race was won by Colombia's Julián Arredondo of Team Nippo.

      History

      Acap.svg This section may require copy-editing. (February 2013)

      The race

      The race was formed based by the idea of former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir bin Mohamad, along with Wan Adli Wan Ibrahim and Izmee Che Ismail of First Cartel. The race was successfully held for the first time in 1996. The tour visited in Sabah and Sarawak in 1997, however poor cargo service led to long delays for several teams in transporting luggage (and even their riders), causing several of the major teams to refuse to participate in the second stage of the tour. These threats forced organisers to cancel the stage.[1] Since then, the race never re-visited the area.

      Several incidents spiced up the race in history, stages of the race were cancelled twice due to heavy downpour in the final stage back in 2003 and 2006.[2] During the first stage in 2004, police officials mistakenly opening the way for public vehicles onto the race track while the race was still ongoing to decide the winner of the first stage. After negotiations between the riders, they decided to neutralise the stage.[3]

      Genting Highlands is the toughest climb in the tour, except in 2008, it was replaced by Fraser's Hill due to security reasons and set to comeback again in 2009. The tour ended with twelve laps criterium race in Dataran Merdeka.

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      Past winners

      General classification

      Rider Team
      1996 Australia McDonald, DamianDamian McDonald (AUS) Giant–AIS
      1997 Italy Scinto, LucaLuca Scinto (ITA) MG Maglificio-Technogym
      1998 Italy Missaglia, GabrieleGabriele Missaglia (ITA) Mapei-Bricobi
      1999 Italy Lanfranchi, PaoloPaolo Lanfranchi (ITA) Mapei-Quick Step
      2000 United States Horner, ChrisChris Horner (USA) Mercury Cycling Team
      2001 Italy Lanfranchi, PaoloPaolo Lanfranchi (ITA) Mapei-Quick Step
      2002 Colombia Muñoz, Hernán DaríoHernán Darío Muñoz (COL) Colombia-Selle Italia
      2003 United States Danielson, TomTom Danielson (USA) Saturn Cycling Team
      2004 Colombia González, FredyFredy González (COL) Colombia-Selle Italia
      2005 South Africa Cox, RyanRyan Cox (RSA) Barloworld
      2006 South Africa George, DavidDavid George (RSA) South Africa (national team)
      2007 France Charteau, AnthonyAnthony Charteau (FRA) Crédit Agricole
      2008 Moldova Ivanov, RuslanRuslan Ivanov (MDA) Diquigiovanni-Androni
      2009 Colombia Serpa, JoséJosé Serpa (COL) Diquigiovanni-Androni
      2010 Venezuela Rujano, JoséJosé Rujano (VEN) Androni Giocattoli
      2011 Venezuela Monsalve, JonathanJonathan Monsalve (VEN) Androni Giocattoli
      2012 Colombia Serpa, JoséJosé Serpa (COL) Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela
      2013 Colombia Arredondo, JuliánJulián Arredondo (COL) Team Nippo-De Rosa

      Points classification

      Rider Team
      1996 Australia McDonald, DamianDamian McDonald (AUS) Giant–AIS
      1997 Italy Scinto, LucaLuca Scinto (ITA) MG Maglificio-Technogym
      1998 Italy Rodriguez, FredFred Rodriguez (ITA) Saturn Cycling Team
      1999 New Zealand Miller, GraemeGraeme Miller (NZL) New Zealand (national team)
      2000 Canada Fraser, GordonGordon Fraser (CAN) Mercury Cycling Team
      2001 Italy Bettini, PaoloPaolo Bettini (ITA) Mapei-Quick Step
      2002 South Africa Hunter, RobertRobert Hunter (RSA) Mapei-Quick Step
      2003 Australia Brown, GraemeGraeme Brown (AUS) Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo
      2004 Canada Fraser, GordonGordon Fraser (CAN) Health Net-Maxxis
      2005 Australia Brown, GraemeGraeme Brown (AUS) Ceramica Panaria-Navigare
      2006 Germany Radochla, SteffenSteffen Radochla (GER) Team Wiesenhof-AKUD
      2007 Italy Loddo, AlbertoAlberto Loddo (ITA) Diquigiovanni-Selle Italia
      2008 Switzerland Clerc, AurélienAurélien Clerc (SUI) Bouygues Télécom
      2009 Italy Gavazzi, MattiaMattia Gavazzi (ITA) Diquigiovanni-Androni
      2010 Malaysia Manan, AnuarAnuar Manan (MAS) Geumsan Ginseng Asia
      2011 Italy Guardini, AndreaAndrea Guardini (ITA) Farnese Vini-Neri Sottoli
      2012 Italy Guardini, AndreaAndrea Guardini (ITA) Farnese Vini-Selle Italia
      2013 Italy Chicchi, FrancescoFrancesco Chicchi (ITA) Vini Fantini-Selle Italia

      Mountains classification

      Rider Team
      1996 Australia McDonald, DamianDamian McDonald (AUS) Giant–AIS
      1997 Italy Scinto, LucaLuca Scinto (ITA) MG Maglificio-Technogym
      1998 South Africa Ryder, DouglasDouglas Ryder (RSA) South Africa (national team)
      1999 Italy Petacchi, AlessandroAlessandro Petacchi (ITA) Navigare-Gaerne
      2000 Mexico Pérez, Julio AlbertoJulio Alberto Pérez (MEX) Ceramica Panaria-Gaerne
      2001 Italy Lanfranchi, PaoloPaolo Lanfranchi (ITA) Mapei-Quick Step
      2002 Colombia Marín, RuberRuber Marín (COL) Colombia-Selle Italia
      2003 Canada Green, RolandRoland Green (CAN) Canada (national team)
      2004 Colombia Marín, RuberRuber Marín (COL) Colombia-Selle Italia
      2005 South Africa Cox, RyanRyan Cox (RSA) Barloworld
      2006 South Africa George, DavidDavid George (RSA) South Africa (national team)
      2007 Colombia Pedraza, WalterWalter Pedraza (COL) Diquigiovanni-Selle Italia
      2008 Italy Savini, FilippoFilippo Savini (ITA) CSF Group-Navigare
      2009 Colombia Serpa, JoséJosé Serpa (COL) Diquigiovanni-Androni
      2010 Australia McDonald, PeterPeter McDonald (AUS) Drapac Porsche Cycling
      2011 Venezuela Monsalve, JonathanJonathan Monsalve (VEN) Androni Giocattoli
      2012 Colombia Serpa, JoséJosé Serpa (COL) Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela
      2013 China Meiyin, WangWang Meiyin (CHN) Hengxiang Cycling Team

      Asian rider classification

      Rider Team
      1998 Indonesia Susanto, TontonTonton Susanto (INA) Indonesia (national team)
      1999 Japan Yukinari, HidetoHideto Yukinari (JPN) Japan (national team)
      2000 Hong Kong Kam-po, WongWong Kam-po (HKG) Telekom Malaysia Cycling Team
      2001 Hong Kong Kam-po, WongWong Kam-po (HKG) Telekom Malaysia Cycling Team
      2002 Indonesia Tonton SusantoTonton Susanto (INA) Telekom Malaysia Cycling Team
      2003 Japan Kano, TomoyaTomoya Kano (JPN) Japan (national team)
      2004 Iran Mizbani, GhaderGhader Mizbani (IRI) Iran (national team)
      2005 Japan Fukushima, KojiKoji Fukushima (JPN) Bridgestone Anchor
      2006 Iran Askari, HosseinHossein Askari (IRI) Giant Asia Racing Team
      2007 Iran Mizbani, GhaderGhader Mizbani (IRI) Giant Asia Racing Team
      2008 Japan Fukushima, ShinichiShinichi Fukushima (JPN) Meitan Hompo-GDR
      2009 Indonesia Susanto, TontonTonton Susanto (INA) LeTua Cycling Team
      2010 South Korea Hyo-Suk, GongGong Hyo-Suk (KOR) Seoul Cycling Team
      2011 Iran Emami, RahimRahim Emami (IRI) Azad University Iran
      2012 Kazakhstan Dyachenko, AlexsandrAlexsandr Dyachenko (KAZ) Astana
      2013 China Meiyin, WangWang Meiyin (CHN) Hengxiang Cycling Team

      Team classification

      Year Based Team name
      1996 Australia Giant–AIS
      1997 Italy MG Maglificio-Technogym
      1998 Italy Mapei-Bricobi
      1999 Italy Mapei-Quick Step
      2000 United States Mercury Cycling Team
      2001 Italy Mapei-Quick Step
      2002 Italy Mapei-Quick Step
      2003 Colombia Colombia-Selle Italia
      2004 United Kingdom Barloworld
      2005 United Kingdom Barloworld
      2006 Colombia Selle Italia-Diquigiovanni
      2007 Chinese Taipei Giant Asia Racing Team
      2008 Venezuela Diquigiovanni-Androni
      2009 Venezuela Diquigiovanni-Androni
      2010 Iran Tabriz Petrochemical Cycling Team
      2011 Iran Tabriz Petrochemical Team
      2012 Italy Androni Giocattoli-Venezuela
      2013 South Africa MTN Qhubeka

      Asian team classification

      Year Based Team name
      1998 Philippines Philippines (national team)
      1999 Malaysia Malaysia (national team)
      2000 Japan Japan (national team)
      2001 Malaysia Telekom Malaysia Cycling Team
      2002 Malaysia Telekom Malaysia Cycling Team
      2003 Iran Iran (national team)
      2004 Iran Iran (national team)
      2005 Iran Iran (national team)
      2006 Japan Japan (national team)
      2007 Chinese Taipei Giant Asia Racing Team
      2008 South Korea Seoul Cycling Team
      2009 Iran Iran (national team)
      2010 Iran Tabriz Petrochemical Cycling Team
      2011 Iran Tabriz Petrochemical Team
      2012 Kazakhstan Astana
      2013 Iran Tabriz Petrochemical Team
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      References

      1. ^ Abt, Samuel (1997-02-21). "3 Pro Teams Balk at Logistics in Asian Bike Race". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 2008-12-21. 
      2. ^ Tan, Anthony (2003-02-09). "Bongiorno triumphs in KL; Danielson safely home". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2008-12-21. 
      3. ^ Tan, Anthony. "Sprintless finale to first day". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 2008-12-21. 
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      External links

      Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Le Tour de Langkawi
      Tour de Langkawi
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      Last modified on 25 May 2013, at 02:31