PROTON CONTINUE AS OFFICIAL SPONSORS OF LTDL 2010
23/02/2010
 KUALA
LUMPUR - Traditionally a strong supporter of Le Tour de Langkawi
(LTdL), PROTON Holdings Berhad will again be a significant
contributor to the success of the race, the biggest in Asia,
which enters its 15th edition from March 1 to 7.
For LTdL
2010, PROTON Holdings Berhad will be providing 180 units of
various PROTON models to be used as official cars for race
officials, team managements and other crew throughout the
seven-stages of the race.
PROTON
will also be spicing up the action in the race which begins
in Kota Bharu next Monday, with sponsorship of the PROTON
blue jersey for the leader of the Asian riders' classification.
Apart
from that, the national car manufacturer will also be putting
up exhibition booths at each start and finish venue, while
also distributing merchandise to spectators as part of the
cavalcade run.
With a
line-up of various PROTON car models throughout the race route,
the tradition of PROTON's involvement with LTdL proves that
the cooperation from both parties that began since the first
race in 1996 has contributed towards the race being elevated
and maintained at its current 2.HC status.
PROTON
Holdings Sdn Bhd Chief Finance Officer, Azhar bin Othman handed
over the sponsorship to the LTdL organisers yesterday at the
PROTON Centre of Excellence in Shah Alam. Also present was
deputy secretary general of the Youth and Sports Ministry
Datuk Mohid Mohamed, LTdL 2010 chief executive officer Mohamed
Salleh and Malaysian National Cycling Federation president
Haji Abu Samah Abdul Wahab.
In his
speech, Azhar said PROTON Holdings Berhad's sponsorship for
LTdL is proof that the national car company supports the sports
industry's effort to organize international sports tourism
events in the country.
"PROTON
hopes that the blue jersey that we sponsor for the best Asian
rider will heat up the action in the race," said Azhar.
Since
LTdL was introduced in 1996, PROTON has been a part of the
large family by sponsoring various models and the volume has
even reached as high as 260 units of cars in 2003. As among
the traditional sponsors in LTdL, PROTON has also sponsored
several jerseys contested in LTdL such as the spinters jersey
and the Asian rider's jersey prior to this.
The presence
of PROTON in the Cavalcade convoy also usually receives overwhelming
response from the public at start and finish venues as well
as all along the race route. Apart from gaining the attention
of the public, PROTON's convoy has also managed to introduce
and promote several of their new models, along with some luxury
sports car models from Lotus.
Race paraphernalia
from PROTON such as t-shirts, pens, note books and caps are
also very popular among spectators, as their booths at start
and finish venues are usually horded by the public.
The 15th
edition of the LTdL this year is organized by the Ministry
of Youth and Sports with assistance from the Malaysian National
Cycling Federation and has been granted hors category status
by the International Cycling Union (UCI). The race comprises
seven stages which are Kota Bharu - Kuala Berang which covers
174.5km, followed by Kuala Terengganu - Chukai (182.3km);
Pekan - Mersing (145.6km); Mersing-Parit Sulong (163.5km);
Muar - Port Dickson (111.5km) Putrajaya - Genting Highlands
(102.8km) dan Kuala Kubu Baru - Dataran Merdeka (133.7km),
with a total distance of 1013.9km.
As
many as 120 cyclists from 20 teams, including two local teams
will contest the race.
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