TSG Installed As Early Favourites To Win Malaysian Tour Cycling Championship

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 (Bernama) -- The 52nd edition of the 2016 Malaysia Tour Cycling Championship which involves five stages over 750.2km is expected to be dominated by the Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG), a pro continental team. The withdrawal of two other pro continental teams, namely Tabriz Petrochemical Cycling Team of Iran and defending champion Skydive Dubai Pro Cycling Team–Al Ahli Club from United Arab Emirates at the last minute has improved TSG's chance. TSG comprised six young and experienced racers, siblings Mohd Zamri and Mohd Harrif Saleh, Mohd Saiful Anuar Mohd Aziz, Mohd Shahrul Mat Amin, Nur Amirul Fakhruddin Marzuki and Indonesian import, Dady Suryadi. Based on the final list issued by the organisers Peloton Resources, 16 teams including nine local teams have confirmed their participation. For the record, the LeTua Cycling team was the only Malaysian representative to have emerged as the overall champions in the annual cycling championship, back in 2010. In the meantime, Mohd Harrif, who was met by reporters after the ceremony to introduce the participating teams at the Cheras Central Shopping Complex Monday night, expected stiff competition from two pro continental teams, namely, KSPO of South Korea and Pishgaman Giant Team of Iran. At the same time, he said the absence of Anuar Manan, who is a sprint specialist, would not affect his chance to wear the green jersey as Sprint King for the fourth time after winning the same jersey in 2011, 2013 and 2014. The first stage of the Malaysia Tour involves a distance of 206.6km from Dataran Merdeka (Merdeka Square in Kuala Lumpur) to Ipoh town in the Perak state Tuesday would involve a climbing zone at Templer and three climbing zones in Serendah, Bidor and Kampar. The second stage is from Infoternak Sungai Siput to Brinchang (108.7km), third stage from Gua Musang to Pasir Puteh (163km), fourth stage from Machang to Gong Badak (124.8km) before the final stage from Kemaman to Kuala Terengganu (147.1 km). -- BERNAMA