Major changes to Tour route next year
The Star, 18/12/2007

PUTRAJAYA: There will be one stage fewer and major changes to the route for next year's Tour of Langkawi which kicks off on Feb 9 in Alor Star.

Next year's Tour will have only nine stages and the usual final stage at the Kuala Lumpur Criterium has been cancelled. It will be replaced by a new route from Seremban to Dataran Merdeka covering a gruelling 153km.

And to provide more excitement in the battle for the King of Mountain category the Genting Hill climb covering 118km has been brought forward to Stage Two instead of the usual penultimate stage.

The Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said unveiled the new route at her ministry here yesterday.

Johor will have a major part in the Tour as three of the stages will be held there.

Stage One of the tour, which starts in Alor Star, will cover 130km and end in Kulim. Next comes the Genting stage followed by the longest stage, which will cover 195km. This will start at Lanchang, Pahang and will end in Cukai, Terengganu. It will then move to Johor, Malacca and Seremban before ending in Kuala Lumpur.

The Tour's chief operating officer Datuk Naim Mohamed said that there would be a carnival-like atmosphere at all the starting and finishing points.

“One of the major difference in the forthcoming Tour is that we want to take it closer to the people. We will organise more events for them to participate in.

“And to generate interest in the sport we will also organise cycling clinics at each stage,” said Naim.

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