News for February 5

Kam Po confident of third title in three years

By Tommy Campbell in Melaka

A hat trick of titles is within his grasp in the Telekom Malaysia Le Tour de Langkawi, but Hong Kong's Kam Po Wong is aware that the challenge for the blue jersey of best Asian rider will come from within his own team, Telekom Malaysia.

Kam Po, who won his first stage of the Tour in Cameron Highlands in 2000, has won the title of the best Asian rider at the TDL for the last two years, but after the showing in the last few days, he realises the fight this year will come down to the wire.

Teammate Gader Mizbani, who Kam Po had beaten to the title last year, had won the blue jersey from Philippines' Arnel Quirimit yesterday. But today at the end of stage Five from Bangi to Melaka, the jersey changed hands once again when another Telekom teammate, Tonton Susanto took over the lead as the best in Asia.

"The Tour de Langkawi is a major target for me this year. But I feel that more important than the blue jersey is trying to win a stage or one of the other major jerseys at the tour," the 28-year old told Cyclingnews. "That is why I tried so hard especially in the last few stages to make sure that I'm in the front bunch and with an opportunity for the sprint. I know that once the climb up Genting Highlands starts, that will be all for me at this Tour. Genting is a killer for me."

Prior to the Tour de Langkawi, Kam Po had taken part in the Tour of the South China Sea, in which he was crowned overall champion. And after that, he took two stages at the Tour of Wellington in New Zealand before coming to Kuala Lumpur.

Kam Po also added that this year, he is looking at the possibility of signing a contract with a professional European team.

"I was not ready last year, as I thought that I was not good enough, but all that changed in the last several months," added Kam Po, who turned down an offer to turn professional last year with Selle Italia.

"So that is why I trained hard for this race as it is important that I show people what I can do."