Image © Stadiumastro.com
Malaysian rider, Anuar Manan (Geumsan Ginseng Asia) finished first in the 5th Stage of Le Tour de Langkawi from Muar to Port Dickson with a distance of 111.5km.

PORT DICKSON, March 5 (Bernama) -- Local cycling ace Anuar Manan continued his sensational form to create history by becoming the first Malaysian to win a Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) stage.

Anuar, 24, representing Geumsan Ginseng Asia, won stage five today from Muar, Johor to Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan, a distance of 111.5km, en route to sweeping aside a strong challenge from world class pro tour and continental riders.

In doing so, the Terengganu-born rider clocked 2 hours 23 minutes 11 seconds, and joined an illustrious list of seven riders from Asia who have achieved such a feat and only the second ASEAN rider to do so since 1996.

MERSING - Pelumba negara yang menyerlah pada Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2010 mendapat reaksi positif Presiden Persekutuan Kebangsaan Berbasikal Malaysia (PKBM), Abu Samah Wahab .

Beliau memberitahu sangat teruja dengan apa yang diterapkan oleh jurulatih pasukan kebangsaan yang baru, William Walker walaupun dia tidak sampai sebulan memulakan tugasnya.

"Selepas tiga peringkat perlumbaan, saya dapat melihat sendiri prestasi mereka meningkat walaupun ada antaranya masih mentah," katanya di sini, semalam.

KUALA TERENGGANU: Malaysian professional cyclist Anuar Manan created personal history by winning two jerseys after Stage One of the Tour of Langkawi yesterday.

Anuar, who hails from Kuala Abai here, won the Green Jersey as the ‘sprint king’ and the Blue Jersey as the best Asian finisher in the race covering a distance of 174.5km from Kota Baru in Kelantan to Kuala Berang, Terengganu.

“It has been my and my team’s (Geumsan Ginseng Asia of South Korea) target to win the sprint king title. Winning the Blue Jersey is a bonus,” he told reporters after the race.

Anuar said he would do all he could to retain the Green Jersey to make him the first Malaysian cyclist to be crowned sprint king in the Tour’s 15-year history.

On a high: Anuar celebrating after winning the blue jersey (best Asian finisher) in the first stage from Kota Baru to Kuala Berang Monday. He also won the green jersey. — Bernama

KOTA BAHARU, Feb 28 (Bernama) -- The 2010 Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL), the 15th edition of the Tour, will be a showcase of local expertise since the organising of the race will be handled by a complete set of locals.