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23.12.2006/ Route details of the 2007 Tour de Langkawi, Inigo Chaurreau retires, Battle of the champions at high
altitude
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Route details of the 2007 Tour de Langkawi
The route of the 2007 Tour de Langkawi was announced in Malaysia this week. The 12th edition of the Tour de Langkawi
will start at February 2 on the Langkawi Island and will include route passing through eas coast states of Malaysia.
Last year the Tour de Langkawi started at the island of Penang and only had stages on the Malaysian west coast. As
last years edition, the 2007 edition will have 10 stages.
Stage 3 will take the riders to the Cameron Highlands with a mountain top finish, last year this stage had the same
finish and was won by Saul Raisin. The queenstage will be stage eight which the traditional climb to the Genting Highlands.
The 1oth and final stage will be the traditional city criterium in the Malaysian kapital Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysian sports minister,Datuk Azalina Othman told Malaysian daily newspaper
The Star: “Funding for the Tour
over the few years has been gradually reducing. Not many local corporations are willing to come forward to support the event
because of economic issues,” she said during the launch of the Tour and the championship logo earlier
this week. The minister continued by saying: “The
government through Tourism Malaysia has decided to fund the Tour since it is the Visit Malaysia Year. I believe the Malaysian
government is one of the few in the world who are willing to fully support sports events. It's the taxpayers money we are talking
about here. We need to be transparent. Previously, the Tour was organised by a private event management company. But we are
giving MNCF the chance to organise next year's race.”
This years edition of the Tour De Langkawi was won by South African rider david George.
Inigo
Chaurreau retires
The 33-year-old Spanish rider began his career with the Euskaltel team, before moving
to Ag2r in 2001. Chaurreau said he is "satisfied with his sporting achievements," and "proud of every minute given to the
sport."
"Physically I have felt very good," Chaurreau said. "Cycling is the sport that has
given me everything, and it is a big part of me."
Battle of the champions at high altitude
Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis will compete in the Leadville Trail 100. The seven-times Tour
de France winner and last years winner of the Tour are likely to duke it out on the tough 100 miles mountain bike course through
the Sawatch mountains in August. Landis, who underwent hip surgery in in 2006, will return to his roots. Landis started his
career in mountain biking. The equally challanging and popular endurance race Leadville Trail is held at high altitude, never
going lower than 2800 metres.
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| Floyd Landis likely on mountainbike in August (picture: Cyclingheroes) |
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