Form and ranking will count for nothing at LTdL

BASED on the latest UCI rankings, Italy’s Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec will be the highest ranked among the 22 teams in Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL), which starts in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.

Androni is ranked 23rd with 2.767 points, followed by Neri Sottoli-Selle Italia-KTM (1,682.72), Gazprom-Rusvelo (1,425) and Malaysian teams —

Team Sapura Cycling (1,222) and Terengganu Inc-TSG Cycling Team (1,190), while Bardiani-CSF, which will feature “Mr. Langkawi” Andrea Guardini, are 58th.

That said, rankings and reputations are never the deciding factor in the eight-stage LTdL as the race’s history shows many instances of surprises since its inception in 1996.

This is likely due to the diverse form of riders on the startlist, who have been racing in Oceania, Latin America, Europe and the Far East before flying to Malaysia, where they face a different challenge in the tropical heat, along with the challenging Hors category climb in Genting Highlands.

Based on the provisional startlist, LTdL 2019 can again be expected to feature an interesting challenge with teams looking to form a multitude of strategies with diverse focus on the challenges for the yellow jersey and other honours.

Androni, the most successful team in LTdL, have in recent editions suffered a drop in form.

Holding the record number of yellow jerseys — Hernan Dario Munoz in 2002, Freddy Gonzalez (2004), Ruslan Ivanov (2008), Jose Serpa (2009 and 2012), Jose Rujano (2010) and Yonathan Monsalve (2012), the team will be looking to end a seven-year drought in LTdL’s general classification titles.

The team also won the teams classification in 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2012, apart from two points classification titles through Alberto Loddo (2007) and Mattia Gavazzi (2009).

Androni have been rather lacklustre of late only managing two stage wins through Kenny van Hummel (2014) and Manuel Belletti (last year).

LTdL ends in Langkawi on April

13.

List of teams — 1. Vino-Astana Motors (Kaz), 2. Michelton Bike Exchange (Chn)’ 3. Bardiani CSF (Ita), 4. Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec (Ita), 5. Gazprom Rusvelo (Rus), 6. Neri Sottoli Selle Italia KTM (Ita), 7. TSG Cycling Team (Mas), 8. Team Sapura Cycling Team (Mas), 9. Custom Cycling Indonesia Team (Ind), 10. KSPO Bianchi Asia Pro Cycling Team (Kor), 11. Giant Cycling Team (Chn), 12. Floyd’s Pro Cycling (Can), 13. Pro Racing Sunshine Coast (Aus), 14. St George Continental Cycling Team (Aus), 15. Interpro Cycling Academy (Jpn),

16. Team Ukyo (Jpn), 17. Oliver’s Real Food Racing (Aus), 18 Protouch (SA), 19 Brunei Continental Cycling Team, 20. Shenzhen Xidesheng Cycling Team (Chn),

21. Malaysia, 22 Japan.