Terengganu to host final three stages of LTdL cycling race after all

KUALA LUMPUR: Terengganu have rescinded their decision not to host the final three stages of Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) cycling race which begins from Feb 27-March 8.

Last November, Terengganu Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Said pulled the plug on the state’s sponsorship for the race, as he was upset with Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin’s statement regarding the 2017 SEA Games.

The decision was based on an assumption that Khairy had snubbed Ahmad’s offer to host cycling events in Terengganu during the 2017 SEA Games which Malaysia will be hosting.

LTdL chief operating officer, Emir Abdul Jalal said both parties have ironed out the misunderstanding and the race will go on as scheduled for the final three stages.

“Terengganu youth and sports state executive committee chairman Rozi Mamat has confirmed that they will go on to host the final three stages. It was just a slight misunderstanding. The race, the route … everything will go on as planned,” said Emir.

The 10-stage LTdL this year will start from the island of Langkawi and will visit Sungai Petani, Kampar, Subang Jaya, Karak, Rembau, Malacca, Pekan, Marang and Bandar Permaisuri before finishing in Kuala Terengganu.

Meanwhile, the race this year has stepped up a notch in the area of neutral services with Italian tyre maker Vittoria coming on board.

Vittoria are the neutral service provider for Giro d’Italia for the past 10 years.

Their Asia Pacific commercial director, Willem Campagne said the stature of LTdL have grown tremendously from year to year and his company felt they have to be involved in the race.

“We have been in Asia for the past 25 years with a factory in Thailand but we felt that we are missing out when we were not involved with the race,” said Campagne.

“We also hope to make an appearance in the next edition of the race.”

Vittoria will provide six bicycles and 12 wheelsets for the neutral service in the race.