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Wednesday March 18, 2009
By AFTAR SINGH
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s top cycling outfit Le Tua will miss the services of sprinter Anuar Manan for the eight-stage Tour of Malaysia, which will begin on April 19.
Anuar, who won three of the seven stages in last year’s Tour, has been roped in by the Azad University Continental team of Iran for this year’s race.
Anuar also won the green jersey for the best sprinter last year.
This year’s eight-stage race will cover a total distance of 1,240km.
Le Tua coach Johari Mohd Nayan said it would be difficult to match last year’s results in the absence of the best Malaysian best rider.
“Anuar has represented us in the Tour for two years and he won two stages in 2007 and also captured the green jersey,” said Johari.
“But this year he decided to join the Iranian team.”
Le Tua’s challenge will be led by Indonesia’s Tonton Susanto this year. The other Le Tua riders are Samai Amari of Indonesia, Jeremy Yates of New Zealand, Jiw Hen of Singapore and Malaysians Ng Yong Li and Mohd Razif Mohd Salleh.
This year’s edition will also see four other Malaysian teams competing in the 20-team Tour.
Leading the challenge will be the Malaysian National team, Malaysian National Cycling Federation Continental team, Terengganu State Cycling team and debutants Malaysian Armed Forces Cycling team.
Tour of Malaysia executive chairman Datuk Astaman Abdul Aziz said the total prize money of RM280,000 was the largest ever in the history of the Tour.
“A total of 50 teams are interested in competing in the Tour but we have limited it to 20, with a total of 120 riders,” he said.
Source: http://thestar.com.my/sports
