Been nosing around as usual.
Latest feedback from some contacts and some connections with the major teams in cycling say that Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2010, which is set to run under the organisation of the Ministry of Youth and Sports from March 1 to 7, will likely have its weakest field since the inaugural edition in 1996.
Worst of all is the absence of ever present Diquigiovanni-Androni Gioccatoli team of charismatic directeur sportif Gianni Savio. Savio has indicated that the defending champions, who won their second consecutive overall title through Jose Serpa last year, will not be coming as they haven't been paid their dues from 2008.
Without to date a single Pro Tour team having agreed to ride in this year's race, this already is a big slap in the face for Sports Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek and the main people behind the race this time around, namely Sports Ministry secretary general Datuk Mohd Yassin Salleh, his deputy Datuk Mohid Mohamed and their appointed head honcho Zulkifli Khalil.
But it isn't just that. The line-up for this year's race as it is, could see just Asian and Australian continental teams riding the race, apart from the South African national team.
This would likely also be the poorest field in the UCI hors categorie race (2.HC) anywhere in the world. So much for wanting to be part of the Pro Tour.
A little bird told me that even the Ukrainian-backed, Italian registered pro continental team ISD who are the only team to have had solid contact with the organisers over an appearance in the race, have not given their full commitment. This little bird, I hope for the sake of the race, could be wrong.
Thus, on the positive side, this would be the best chance for a Malaysian rider to achieve the first ever stage win by a local in the race. But whether it is as meaningful as it would have been when the field was from a field worthy of the 2.HC status of the race, will be up to you to decide.
I just continue to fail to understand why there is so much continued politicking in Malaysian cycling and everybody from the MNCF to the Ministry seems to have a hand in it. Together, as 1Malaysia, they continue to destroy it all.
5 comments:
bro, whers my cycling jersey..haha..i'll ride LtdL for free..no need to pay me appearance fee..
zzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzzz sorry, what did you say? I had fallen asleep.
Nice fill someone in on and this fill someone in on helped me alot in my college assignement. Gratefulness you on your information.
Komen jurulatih Walker, semua pro Team tapi hantar 2nd team pun buat apa....
Selalu juga baca comment you dalam NST. Tapi kenapa you je yg selalu bagi negetif feedback ? Paper lain semua ok je... I rasa you je yg libatkan politik dgn kerjaya you. You tulis je pasal berita sukan, bukan pasal politik dalam sukan.
As an amateur photographer, I have been following LTdL since last year. No wonder this year I felt like it was a cheap event.
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