AFTER a lapse of several years, Kota Bharu is once again given the honour of being the start venue for LTdL 2010. From the start in front of the Balai Besar, the peloton weaves through a neutralised zone of 6.5 kilometres before the real start in front of the historic Sultan Ismail Mosque.

Heading South, the race moves through Pekan Gunang and Kampung Bukit Chanda before the first intermediate sprint zone in Jelawat 20.7 kilometres into the stage. In keeping with the recent trend of early breakaways, a small group of escapees can be expected to make a charge for Jelawat and also the first of the King of the Mountains (KOM) points on offer when they hit a relatively easy category 4 climb in Tok Bali, the famous jetty for tourists heading to the holiday destination of Perhentian Island, which is 40 kilometres into the stage.

With two more intermediate sprint zones and another categorised climb in Kuala Besut (50.6km), Sungai Tong (128.3km) and Kampung Chapu (151.8km), the tempo is expected to be high as the race for the leaders jerseys for the points and mountains classifications heats up right from the opening stage. Nevertheless, with a fairly flat profile of the stage, the peloton is expected to regroup for a mass bunch sprint to the finish in Kuala Berang.