Six champions to return to Langkawi

The late inclusion of Colombia’s Jose Serpa brings to six the number of former winners on the start line in Putrajaya, the home of Malaysian government. Tom Danielson (2003) riding for Garmin-Barracuda, Freddy Gonzalez (2004) now with Azad University, Europcar’s Anthony Charteau (2007) will also attempt to equal Paolo Lanfranchi who is the only rider to have LTdL twice (1999, 2001) up to date.

But chances remain higher that the title will stay in the camp of the Androni Giocattoli team with the past three winners in the same team: Serpa (2009) and Venezuelans José Rujano (2010) and Yonatta Monsalve (2011).


Le Tour de Langkawi is also very special for Serpa, as it was his first race as professional after an eleventh hour UCI registration and a long and tiring trip from South America to Asia back in 2006. Then he won the flat stage to Kuala Selangor and the grueling uphill finish of Genting Highlands back-to-back.

For four years in a row, Serpa has won at least one stage at Le Tour de Langkawi until he eventually claimed the overall classification on his last appearance in 2009. He’s the only climber to have imposed himself three times at Genting Highlands where he is unbeaten as the stage was not contested in 2008.
 
“This is another great champion coming back to our event”, chief operating officer Emir Abdul Jalal said.

“Serpa’s return to Malaysia after two years of absence will be warmly welcomed by the numerous fans he has made here during his four years of glory at Le Tour de Langkawi.

"As he recently finished sixth overall at the Tour de San Luis won by Levi Leipheimer over Alberto Contador, he obviously has good form for the early part of the cycling season once again.”