KUALA LUMPUR: Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec will the highest ranking side among 22 teams under the International Cycling Union (UCI) to participate in the 24th edition of Le Tour de Langkawi 2019 (LTdL 2019) starting this Saturday until April 13.
The team managed by Gianno Savio is ranked 23rd by UCI with 2,767 points, followed by Neri Sottoli-Selle Italia-KTM (1,682.72), Gazprom-Rusvelo (1,425) and two Malaysian continental teams, Team Sapura Cycling (1,222) and Terengganu Inc-TSG Cycling Team (1,190), while Bardiani-CSF which featured Andrea Guardini are 58th in the rankings.
However, rankings and reputation are not the deciding factor that will determine the success of the teams in the eight stages of LTdL 2019 as the history had shown
surprises and shock results since the competition’s inception in 1996, said race organiser Human Voyage Sdn Bhd in a statement yesterday.
The statement noted that Androni holds a glory record in LTdL with the team classification title in 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2012, but since 2012, the team only manage to win two stages through Kenny van Hummel in 2014 and Manuel Belleti, last year.
“Tough task awaits Savio to revive the glory days of Androni in LTdL, based on their season in Europe thus far.
“The Italian strategist has to also decide whether to focus on the flat stages that will be represented by sprinters, Marco Benfatto and Matteo Pelucchi or to put an all-out emphasis on the general classification through climbers Alessandro Bisolti, Daniel Munoz and Kevin Riviera,” said the statement.
A hot battle in the race for the yellow jersey and king of mountains (KOM) can be expected apart from title defender Artem Ovechkin of TSG. Colombian Alvaro Duarte, who finished ninth with Forca-Amskins last year now returned with the Brunei Continental Team.
Also expected to heat up the battle for the yellow jersey is Australian Jonathan Clarke of Floyd’s Racing, fresh from his overall victory in the Tour of Taiwan last week who have experienced LTdL with United Healthcare team in 2012, 2014 and 2016.
Neri Sotoli and two former Willier Triestina riders, Giuseppe Fonzi who finished fifth last year and Luca Raggio, 12th could be seen as a potential contenders in this competition.
Cameron Bayly, overall runner-up in LTdL 2017 and Brendon Davids, overall winner for Jelajah Malaysia 2017 are the main weapon for Oliver’s Real Food Racing to pose a major threat to other teams.
Hernan Aguirre, winner of 2018 Tour of Qinghai Lake is also expected to challenge the Genting Highlands stage along with his Interpro Cycling Academy team which will make their debut in LTdL this year.
LTdL 2019 also witnessed the return of Genting Highlands on its route after a four-year absence from the competition.
The challenging Hors category with a 1,700 metre climb will take place on the fourth day from Shah Alam. – Bernama
