KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Pro Cycling (MPC) is looking to launch an assault on the Asian teams classification when they make their debut in Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) which starts next week (Sept 29-Oct 6).
MPC team principal Sayuti Zahit named his six-man squad today (Sept 21), four of whom are strong climbers.
The highly experienced Zawawi Azman will lead the squad which also features Zulfikri Zulkifli, who won gold at the Asian Mountain Bike Championships in Putrajaya earlier this year, Fahmi Khairul as well as lanky Cameron Highlands native Syawal Mazlin, whose local knowledge will be valuable during the third stage.
In-form Izzat Hilmi Abdul Halil, who won the points classification jersey at the Tour of Thailand in April, will be expected to excel in the sprint stages. He will be led-out by Ahmad Syazrin Awang Ilah.
Sayuti believes they have the ability to fight for victory in the Asian teams classification but admits the competition will be stiff.
To be eligible for the category, a team must be registered under an Asian national body and also feature at least three Asian riders.
"With Astana Qazaqstan fielding only one Kazakh rider in LTdL this year, it does open up the Asian team's classification a bit more," said Sayuti.
"We are looking to go for the win in the Asian teams classification and I think we have a decent chance.
"We have four strong climbers in the team who are in good form at the moment. We have just concluded our final training camp and they are putting out good numbers.
"It will be tough because the teams from Japan (JCL Team Ukyo) and Hong Kong (HKSI Pro Cycling) as well as the Thailand national team and Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) will also be going for the win."
Astana - one of three UCI WorldTeams competing in LTdL this season - have only named one Kazakh rider, Vadim Pronsky, in their squad. EF Education EasyPost (United States) and DSM-Firmenich PostNL (Netherlands) are the two other WorldTeam sides.
Roojai Online Insurance (Thailand) won the Asian teams classification last year but will not be racing in LTdL this time.
MPC today returned to Kuala Lumpur after a three-day recon of the route for the UCI ProSeries tour's two climbing stages.
Stage three (Oct 1) will see riders covering 170.3 kilometres from Taiping to Cameron Highlands while stage four (Oct 2) will start from Kuala Kubu Bharu and end in Bentong (131.2km).
"The climbs are not as steep as the route used for Genting Highlands in previous years and this should suit our riders better," added Sayuti.
"The condition of the roads looked good. We are actually quite familiar with these routes, this camp was more of a 'refresher course' for our riders."
Genting Highlands, which has traditionally hosted LTdL's queen stage over the years, has been excluded from the race this season due to planned roadworks there.
MPC most recently competed in the Tour of Salalah (UCI 2.2) earlier this month and Tour of Hainan (UCI ProSeries) last month.