Le Tua coach: Stage win is within our reach
NST, 31/1/2008

Continental team Le Tua's coach made a bold statement of the team's intentions on the sidelines of a training camp in Fraser's Hill, where the national team is also based, making it clear that the team is out to fight for victories.

"A stage win is within our reach if we play the right tactics and we'll be going for it with either Anuar Manan, Ahmad Haidar Anuawar or Sayuti Zahit," said Johari.

"We're not going into the race just to finish or for exposure. I believe we have a good enough team to challenge the Pro Tour teams.

"A stage win on the flats and to go for the Asian rider's jersey from (Jelajah Malaysia winner) Tonton (Susanto), will be our goals. We learnt from our first experience in this high-level race last year and it will be different this time around."

Instead of sitting on the wheels of the top sprinters in the bunch entering the final dash, Le Tua will this year be lining up their own lead-out.

Anuar is recovering from a slight injury, but having won three stages and the points classification in Jelajah Malaysia three weeks ago, is on a hot streak.

The national team, under coach Aminuddin Sulaiman, will be lining up a bid to finish higher in the Asian teams classification.

"We have a team with some promising climbers, so the routes near Kuala Rompin and Fraser's Hill would suit us better," said Aminuddin.

"Of course, against the Pro Tour and professional riders, we cannot expect too much from our riders, but if we play it smart from the front of the pack, we can try to achieve something."

The squad with Suhardi Hassan, Firdaus Daud, Fauzan Ahmad Lutfi, Rauf Nor Misbah, Faris Abdul Razak and Zamri Salleh, with an average age of 23, is a team with some promise.

"Their form is possibly the best since I took over as coach. I am not worried about that but they need to be a bit brave and smart in these sort of races," said Aminuddin.

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