Koreans have already made their mark in LTdL history when Lee Won Jae won Stage 3 at Banting in LTdL 2008, representing Seoul Cycling Team, thus became the fourth Asian rider to win a stage.
Leading the challenge in the Cameron Highlands and Genting Hinglands, is definitely Gong Hyo Suk who shocked many when he ranked second overall, after losing to eventual overall winner Jose Rujano of ISD-Neri in the climb to Genting Highlands while Gong was awarded the Best Asian Rider. He the first Asian rider to record the best result in the Hors category Genting Highlands climb, mostly dominated by South American and European riders.
Hyo Suk, 25, proved reliable and is expected to be one of the contenders once again in the fight for the overall win based on his ability to climb the ‘Queen Stage’ of LTdL, as he had proved from his two victories in mountain stages in Tour de Korea last year.
Park Sung Baek is predicted to heat up the competition for the Sprint jersey, as he is highly motivated to make up for his disappointment at the Asian Games Guangzhou last year when his victory was cancelled.
With 21 victories in his career, including three victories last year at the Tour of Singkarak, Indonesia and two-stage wins at Tour of Hokaido, Japan, 25 year old Sung Baek, is expected to have enough experience to find victory in any race in Asia.
At the Asian Games in Guangzhou, Sung Baek sprinted to the finish, but his victory was cancelled by the commissaire panel for allegedly dangerous sprinting, then the gold medal went to the veteran Hong Kong rider, Wong Kam Po who was the Asian first rider to win a stage in LTdL.
However, in spite of the two main riders in the Korean National squad, this time led by team manager Do Eun Chul, their success depends greatly on the support of four other riders listed in the team, who are Jang Kyung Gu, Jang Chan Jae, Choi Jong Gyun and Yoo Ki Hong.
All four riders gained lot of experience with different clubs in Korea, are expected to assist Hyo Suk and Sung Baek, yet still capable of creating a surprise based on the records of their respective careers. Ki Hong, who represents Seoul Cycling since 2008 and Chan Jae who won Stage 2, from Peace Dam to Union Bridge of Tour de Korea last year.
CEO of Le Tour de Langkawi 2011, Mohamed Salleh is impressed with the team’s line-up this year, “With the return of our defending Asian Overall winner Gong Hyo Suk, the Korea line-up is going to be a strong force in the field, I hope they will do well and probably be the first Asian rider to win in Genting Highlands too.”
KOREA NATIONAL TEAM LINE-UP:
TEAM MANAGER: DO Eun Chul
RIDERS: JANG Kyung Gu, PARK Sung Baek, GONG Hyo Suk, CHOI Jong Gyun, JANG Jae Chan, YOO Ki Hong
Le Tour de Langkawi 2011 is organized by the Youth and Sports Ministry of Malaysia together with the Malaysian National Cycling Federation. The 2011 Tour is scheduled to be held from 23rd January to 1st February covers a total distance of 1315.4 kms with 10 stages, starting in Langkawi Island and ending at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur.
