It's now Serpa's turn to deliver for favourites
12/02/2009, NST Online

LE Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) will be decided on two mountain stages today and tomorrow, but favourites Diquigiovanni-Androni Gioccatoli are facing all sorts of problems.

They've won three stages via an on-form sprinter Mattia Gavazzi, but they came to LTdL with an eye firmly on the overall title being delivered by leader Jose Serpa, whom the Venezuelan team will count on when the race goes vertical in today's 222km stage from Malacca to Bangi, which is troubled by two tough climbs in succession -- up Bukit Tangga (category three) and the category two climb up Genting Perez.

The finish comes at the end of what is expected to be a fast and dangerous downhill sprint for more than 50km at the PKNS Complex in Bangi.

While Diquigiovanni are troubled by an ill Carlos Jose Ochoa and a team that won't be as fresh as they would want, after working at the front of the pack controlling the race in defence of Gavazzi's yellow jersey the previous two stages.

Their main rivals, South Africa -- who will be counting on Ian McLeod and promising young mountains classification leader Jacques Janse Van Rensburg -- are anything but worn out, having worked conservatively thus far in the race.

The other contenders, CSF-Navigare have been virtually inactive thus far and have a promising attack on the general classification lined up in the form of climbers Domenico Pozzovivo and Fortunato Baliani. Fuji-Servetto, led by last year's Tour de France's Stage 10 winner Juan Jose Cobo.

Diquigiovanni team manager Gianni Savio, however, believes in the reserves in strength his team have and remains confident of meeting their initial target -- their fourth overall title.

"It is impossible to be working like we did today (yesterday), every single day. In fact, with 30km to go, I already told the team to stop working as the breakaway was being pulled in. But then, I asked (Mattia) Gavazzi how he was feeling and he said he was very good," said Savio.

"When you have a rider in form and says he wants to go for a win, you cannot stop your team from delivering it. And with that, we've won three stages already.

"Tomorrow (today) is another story. We will try and make sure the whole team recuperate well and are ready for the tough stages coming up. LTdL will be decided in the next two days."

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