SOUTH AFRICA RELIES ON THE LEADERSHIP OF IAN MCLEOD IN LTDL 2010
15/02/2010

KUALA LUMPUR - SOUTH AFRICA is the loyal team who is no stranger to Le Tour de Langkawi since it was introduced and for this 15th edition of LTDL 2010, the team this year will be headed again by their experienced team captain, Ian McLeod.

Team manager Barry Austin, is very confident with the leadership of McLeod, who have already joined the past five editions of LTDL, Jaco Venter and Christoff Van Heerden, the line-up will also include talented riders, Christopher Jennings, Johann Rabie and Jay Thomson.

Leading the South African challenge is their senior rider, 30 year old, McLeod, who had also appeared with ProTour team Francaise des Jeux in LTDL 2007. McLeod’s experience will be valuable against the challenge that awaits them in LTDL.

Ranked 55th overall on his first appearance in 2001, McLeod returned with Francaise des Jeux in 2007 with better results in 16th overall, his best overall placing to date is 9th with the national squad in 2008. Although often challenged by the emergence of new riders in his country, McLeod proved that he is still capable when he won the African Continental Road Race in November last year.

McLeod, a climbing specialist, has represented HSBC team (2001-2004) and MTN (2008). Among the great success in his career is GP des Lys les Lannoy in 2004; winning a stage of Tour de la Manche 2004; champion of Pick n Pay (2003), Liberty Ride for Sight (2002) while his recent success is second overall in La Tropicale Amissa Bongo 2010 representing his current team, MTN.

Another rider to look out for is Venter, 23, who made his first appearance in LTDL 2008, and ranked 38th overall last year. Although he raced mainly in North America and Canada, Venter‘s greatness was proven when was chosen among the riders to represent the country in the B-23 World Championships in Varese, Italy.

Rabie, 23, is expected to help McLeod and Venter to pursue for the best overall team classification after gaining his first LTDL experience in 2009, ranking 27th overall.

Leading in the slopes is definitely sprint specialist, Christopher Jennings, 19, who will be attending LTDL with the title of South African Junior Champion, after proving his ability to compete with professional riders when he won Berge en Dale Super Classic on 1st February. Jennings who is also in the Under-23 National squad, surprised everyone when he won the 111 km final stage of the Tour de Pays de Vaud in Switzerland last year. He had also worn the King of the Mountian jerseys in vuelta al Besaya, Spain last year while his teammate, Shaun Nick Bester won the yellow jersey.

The rider who is expected to assist Jennings at the finish line is Van Heerden, the capable sprinter who won the B-25 Tour of Pennsylvania in 2008 with Konica Minolta. He had also won the yellow jersey after winning two stages in Tour of Hong Kong, Shanghai, and now represents the local Continental team, MTN.

Thomson, 24, a strong allrounder for MTN, the current U23 National TT Champion as well as the Elite African Continental Time Trial Champion is likely to shine at the finish line. Overall winner Tour of Egypt in 2008, we can expect a great performance from Thomson.

South Africa is among the faithful teams in LTDL sine the first edition in 1996. Their best results were recorded in 2000 and 2002 when the team ranked second overall.

SOUTH AFRICA NATIONAL TEAM
TEAM MANAGER: Barry Austin
RIDERS: Christopher Jennings, Johann Rabie, Jay Thomson, Christoff Van Heerden, Ian McLeod, Jacobus Venter

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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