News for February 7

Tour de Langkawi gets thumbs up from Moser

Italian legend Francesco Moser has given his official nod of approval to the Telekom Malaysia Le Tour de Langkawi, calling for it to be upgraded to UCI 2.2 status.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Moser, who is part of the UCI committee for tour upgrades, said that "There is nothing in this race which is not there in other 2.2 rated races in the world."

He added that TDL organiser First Cartel will have to apply to the UCI for an upgrade. "It is deserving of 2.2 status but it has to be pointed out that I'm not the only one who will decide on the upgrade. There are others who sit on the committee as well."

The Tour de Langkawi had started with a rating of 2.5 in 1996 and where two years later it was upgraded to 2.4 where it stayed until 2000. For the last two years, the Tour has been given a 2.3 status by the UCI.

At the start of this year however, First Cartel executive chairman Dato' Wan Lokman Dato' Paduka Wan Ibrahim made known his intention that they are looking for an upgrade in the Tour's status at the end of the year.

"Certainly, an upgrade to 2.2 will make the Tour more competitive but in the long run, we have to look at a status of 2.1, which is really the ultimate for us," added Dato' Wan Lokman.

The UCI will decide on which tours are worthy of an upgrade after the World Championships in Zolder in October.