DYMOVSKIKH LEADS KAZAKHSTAN IN LTDL
12/02/2010

KUALA LUMPUR – IN their aim to amplify serious competition in the 15th edition of Le Tour de Langkawi 2010 (LTDL), Kazakhstan national team had arrived early not just for training, but also to adapt to the hot and humid Malaysian weather.

The team chose Port Dickson, in Negeri Sembilan as their training ground, arrived in the country earlier this week to ensure that they could be more prepared for the conditions than last year.

With less encouraging results recorded in LTDL 2009 where they came 10th in the Overall Team Classification, team manager Alexandr Nadobenko determines to seek more respected position in the field with their strongest team yet.

Leading the squad is Alexandr Dymovskikh, which began representing the national team at the age of 27 since 2004, made his first international appearance in the Milk Race, Ireland.

Dymovskikh has represented club teams of his country, Capec and Ulan, gained valuable experience racing around the Asian continent such as Tour of Qatar 2006 and Tour of Japan 2007. Winner of the team time trial in the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Dymovskikh was also the winner of the national road individual time trial (ITT) event in in 2007.

Dymovskikh is expected to ride alongside with his teammate of the Asian Games, 24 years old Dmitriy Gruzdev, a versatile racer who is expected to perform well on the slopes and climbs.

Gruzdev also experienced in Asian competition and was ranked fourth overall. In addition, he also helped the country ranked second overall in the Tour of Hainan 2008. Also a former racer of team Capec in 2006 and Ulan (2008), Gruzdev who ranked 44th in LTDL and 13th in Tour de Taiwan last year, also raced in Europe and was ranked 14th overall when racing in The Path of King Nicola, in Montenegro last year.

Another rider who is expected to shine is 24 year-old Roman Zhiyentavev, has represented Polygon-Sweet Nice, Indonesia in 2008.

Ranked 37th overall in the individual classification in LTDL 2009, Zhiyentayev began his career as a mountain-biker and finished third in the National Mountainbike Championships in 2007, he won the yellow jersey in Tour de Taiwan 2009 after winning Stage 2, and emerged as the best Asian rider in the tour.

The pursuit for the yellow jersey once again is definitely in the hands of Alexandr Shushemoin, the 23 year old was the best Kazakhstan rider during the climb to Genting Highlands in LTDL 2009. Shushemoin ranked 24th in the Genting stage last year, with the performance and increasing experience gained in the last season, including 7th overall in The Paths of King Nicole, he will be all geared-up this time.

Meanwhile, Tleubayev, is expected to be a contender in the sprint classification. The 23 year old rider has represented team Ulan in 2008 and has proven his ability by finishing third at the Tashkent Winter Competition (twice), in addition to that he was 10th in the Giro del-Belvedere (Italy) and fourth in Stage 3 Ronde del'Isard d'Ariège in France last year.

Another young rider is Nazar Jumabekov (23), who ranked 15th overall in The Paths of King Nicola and 33rd overall in LTDL last year.

Kazakhstan is among the national teams that decorated the early editions of the LTDL, since their last appearance in 1999, Kazakhstan only managed to place 10th overall in the Teams Classification last year, while their best rider, Shushemoin could only 23rd overall.

LIST OF KAZAKHSTAN NATIONAL TEAM
TEAM MANAGER: Alexandr Nadobenko
Riders: Dmitriy Gruzdev, Nazar Jumabekov, Alexandr Shushemoin, Ruslan Tleubayev, Roman Zhiyentayev, Alexandr Dymovskikh

The 15th edition of the UCI (Hors Category) stage race will take place from Kota Bharu - Kuala Berang (174.5km); Kuala Terengganu - Chukai (182.3km); Pekan - Mersing (145.6km); Mersin-Parit Sulong (163.5km); Muar - Port Dickson (116.9km) Putrajaya - Genting Highlands (102.8km) and Kuala Kubu Baru - Dataran Merdeka (133.7km), covering a total distance of 1019.3km.

A total of 120 riders from 20 teams including two local teams are expected to take part in the event, Le Tour de Langkawi 2010.

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