8th Telekom Malaysia Le Tour de Langkawi - 2.2

Malaysia, January 31 - February 9, 2003

Photos

Stage 10 - February 9: Kuala Lumpur Criterium, 75.6 km

Images by AFP / Ahmad Yusni

• Cyclists ride past the Petronas Twin Towers during the final stage of the LTdL; by the day's end, the 122 finishers will have amassed 1,343 kilometres of racing in the space of 10 days

Images by Mark Sharon

• Roland Green (Canada) looking very relaxed before the final stage in Kuala Lumpur
• Lars Bak (Team fakta) chats with his manager
• Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) contemplative before the start
• Saturn leads the pack on the opening laps before the race is neutralised
• The green jersey of Graeme Brown was never far behind the action at the front
• Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) won the first intermediate sprint, but the gap to Graeme Brown was too large to close
• Lars Bak (Team fakta) goes on the attack midway through the race
• Lars Bak (Team fakta) is soon joined by Michele Gobbi (De Nardi-Colpack) and Biagio Conte (Formaggi Pinzolo Fiave')
• Ruben Bongiorno (Panaria-Fiordo) just pips teammate Graeme Brown at the line
• Ruben Bongiorno swerves to avoid photographers, but almost takes Brown out in the process
• Tom Danielson (Saturn) congratulated by Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Bin Mohamad
• Tom Danielson gives a cheeky smile on the podium
• Ruben Bongiorno salutes the crowd with his stage winner's trophy
• The Iranian national team on the podium after taking out the prize for best Asian Team
• Columbia-Selle Italia take to the stage after winning the prize for best team
• Winner of the Asian Rider classification, Hassan Maleki Mizan (Iran)
• Roland Green (Canada) on the podium
• Graeme Brown (Panaria-Fiordo) salutes the crowd as the winner of the sprints classification
• Roland Green and Graeme Brown hoist Tom Danielson aloft on the podium

Images by Gennie Sheer

• Tom Danielson (Saturn) checks to see he's got everything before leaving the hotel for the final stage
• Tom Danielson (Saturn) poses for the camera outside the Shah Alam
• The Flanders-iTeamnova boys looking very chirpy before the final stage in Kuala Lumpur
• The Saturn team know they've still got a job to do before they can break open the champagne
• Ruben Rongiorno (Panaria-Fiordo) needs some guidance with his prize
• Russell Van Hout (Colombia-Selle Italia) accepts his award as a member of the winning team
• The Colombia-Selle Italia team salute the crowd as the winning team at the LTdL
• Graeme Brown (Panaria-Fiordo) finds a way to hold up his winner's cheque and two trophies
• Brownie keeps gritting his teeth in the spotlight. Plenty more to come from this guy.
• Tom Danielson (Saturn) in the spotlight. Plenty more to come from this guy.
• The final wearers of the various jersey classifications on the podium

Stage 9 - February 8: Seremban - Genting Highlands, 143.7 km

Images by Yuzuru Sunada

• Tom Danielson (Saturn) doing the ride of his life up the climb of Genting Highlands
• Roland Green (Canada) giving it plenty of stick with in the closing kilometres of the race
• Hernan Dario Munoz (Colombia-Selle Italia) about to celebrate victory on the queen stage of the LTdL
• Luciano Pagliarini (Lampre) and Hernan Dario Munoz (Colombia-Selle Italia) all smiles at the start
• Peter Wuyts (Palmans-Collstrop) broke away after 63 kilometres, but his effort was all in vain

Images by Mark Sharon

• Tom Danielson (Saturn) in the spotlight at the start in Seremban
• Hernan Dario Munoz (Colombia-Selle Italia) leads Tom Danielson (Saturn) with a kilometre to go
• Roland Green (Canada) still composed on Genting
• Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) has a great ride to finish in 23rd place
• Chris Horner (Saturn) rounding the final corners up the climb of Genting
• Nathan O'Neill (Saturn) battles his way up the climb after setting the pace for Danielson early on
• Gordon Fraser (Canada) looks a little too cheery
• Luciano Pagliarini (Lampre) always the showman
• Julian Winn (Team fakta) nears the finish
• Graeme Brown (Panaria-Fiordo) tackles the final kilometres alongside Tim Johnson (Saturn)
• Points leader Graeme Brown (Panaria-Fiordo) salutes the crowd
• Tom Danielson (Saturn), an ecstatic leader of the LTdL
• Leaders of the various jersey classifications on the podium with stage winner Hernan Dario Munoz (Colombia-Selle Italia)
• Hernan Dario Munoz (Colombia-Selle Italia) and Graeme Brown (Panaria-Fiordo) on the podium
• Hernan Dario Munoz (Colombia-Selle Italia) and Tom Danielson (Saturn) at post-race press conference

Images by Gennie Sheer

• Pre-race festivities are the norm at the LTdL
• Traditional dancing adds to the colour
• Allan Iacuone (Flanders-iTeamnova) obviously climbs better without a shave
• The Panaria-Fiordo boys are always popular with the fans
• Brett Lancaster's (Panaria-Fiordo) starting to set a trend in Langkawi
• Allan Iacuone (Flanders-iTeamnova) has a great ride to finish 10th
• Despite the viciousness of the climb, Graeme Brown (Panaria-Fiordo) can still manage a smile
• Scott Davis (Panaria-Fiordo), first Australian to wear the pink jersey in the Baby Giro, doesn't have a great day on the climb
• Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) thinks he'd rather be someplace else
• Nathan O'Neill (Saturn) did a great job for Danielson on the lower slopes of Genting
• Graeme Brown (Panaria-Fiordo) could use some time out right now
• Tom Danielson (Saturn) has a quick nap before the presentation
• Post-race interviews are part of the parcel that is pro cycling
• Hernan Dario Munoz (Colombia-Selle Italia) and his manager reflect on the day's events
• Graeme Brown (Panaria-Fiordo) just wants to go back to his hotel and sleep

Stage 8 - February 7: Menara Telekom KL - Seremban, 112.5 km

Images by Yuzuru Sunada

• Koji Fukushima (Japan), Asia's Jacky Durand, broke away after one kilometre and was caught with just 10 kilometres remaining
• Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) gets it by a whisker, but a whisker's enough to win and move him within five points of the green jersey

Images by Mark Sharon

• Nathan O'Neill (Saturn) all patched up after yesterday's untimely crash
• New race leader Tom Danielson (Saturn) poses for CN
• Tommy Evans (Telekom Malaysia) struggles on first climb
• Koji Fukushima (Japan) sets a cracking pace, breaking away after just one kilometre
• Tom Danielson (Saturn) and Roland Green (Canada) turn up the heat in the peloton
• A very close call on the line, but Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) gets it
• This is what 3 climbs, 40 degree heat and 112 kilometres of racing does to you
• Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) a very happy stage winner
• Roland Green (Canada) salutes the crowd
• Graeme Brown (Panaria-Fiordo) looks like he wants revenge after today
• Tom Danielson (Saturn) knows what lies ahead of him
• Leaders of the various jersey classifications salute the crowd
• Koji Fukushima (Japan) just happy to be racing among such a talented pool of riders
• Fukushima plays his mouth organ to the delight of the crowd in Seremban

Stage 7 - Thursday February 6: Kuantan - Bentong, 196 km

Images by Mark Sharon

• Riders play with a baby elephant before the start in Kuantan
• Kam-Po Wong (Telekom Malaysia) at ease with the trunk-nosed creature
• Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) in relaxed mood among his friends at Credit Agricole
• Roland Green (Canada) pensive at the start village of Kuantan
• Traditional dancing has often been the order of the day before the stage start
• The longest break of the LTdL so far looked dangerous until just five kilometres to go
• Graeme Brown (Panaria-Fiordo) takes a very comfortable second stage win
• Graeme Brown's done his classic victory salute many times before, with every success a sweet one
• Nathan O'Neill (Saturn) nursed by one of the Saturn team staff immediately following the stage
• Graeme Brown (Panaria-Fiordo) opens up his lead in the sprints classification
• New leader after day 7, Tom Danielson (Saturn) benefits at the expense of his teammate O'Neill
• Leaders of the various jersey classifications salute the crowd
• A mid-race shunt did its fair share of damage to the South Africa B team car

Stage 6: Wednesday February 5, Marang - Cukai, 136.3 km

Images by Yuzuru Sunada

• Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) finally gets his moment of glory and his first win in his Australian champion's jersey
• Koji Fukushima (Japan) has really shown his tenacity and class in this edition of the LTdL

Images by Gennie Sheer

• Any milk in those bidons?
• Graeme Brown (Panaria-Fiordo) relaxes before start
• Those Malaysian bananas must give you some go-go
• A tiny fan comes out to play

Images by Cyclingnews / Anthony Tan

• The start town of Marang was packed to the rafters, full of color and equally vibrant personalities
• The mood in the village of Merang was one of activity, but only a hundred metres away, locals had just got out of bed
• Some tasty Gios carbon biciclette
• The view from behind the standing room only crowd was much more sedate
• A good owner always takes his pet with him, wherever he goes. Moments later, the monkey jumped into the tree to fetch coconuts for its owner.
• Water buffalos mosey around, indifferent to the goings on just a few metres away from them

Images by Mark Sharon

• The Canadian Team enjoy the floor show the night before during dinner
• Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) not quite ready to pose for the camera… or the snake he's about to encounter
• Don't kiss the snake Stuey!
• Some Palmans-Collstrop guys get their turn with the snake
• The Canadian team poses for Cyclingnews
• Nathan O'Neill (Saturn) before the start of the stage in Marang
• Paolo Lanfranchi (Panaria-Fiordo) doing his best to lose the tan lines
• Talk turns to team tactics
• Roland Green takes it easy at the start in the quaint village of Marang
• Koji Fukushima (Japan) and and Peter Wuyts (Palmans-Collstrop) were away until 700m to go
• The peloton at full steam coming into the town of Cukai
• Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) celebrates his first win of the Tour
• The strain on Stuart O'Grady's face says it all moments after the stage finish
• Koji Fukushima (Japan), quite clearly the most aggressive rider in the LTdL
• Leaders of the various jersey classifications join stage winner Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) on the podium

Stage 5: Tuesday February 4, Kota Bharu - Kuala Terengganu, 179.1 km

Image by Yuzuru Sunada

• Graeme Brown (Panaria-Fiordo) - a very comfortable winner on Stage 5 of the Le Tour de Langkawi

Images by Cyclingnews / Anthony Tan

• Today's stage followed the eastern coast of mainland Malaysia, finishing at the seaside town of Kuala Terengganu
• Riders roll out of the start town in Kota Bharu at a leisurely pace
• Some prefer to pose, others don't
• The insouciant mood of the cows mirrored the attitude of the majority of the peloton until the closing stages of the race

Images by Mark Sharon

• A relaxed Gordon Fraser poses for CN before the race start in Kota Bharu
• Leader in the King of the Mountains classification, Roland Green (Canada) adjusts his neckwear before the race
• Roland Green (Canada) signs autographs before the race
• Tim Johnson (Saturn) has a few laughs with the Canadians before the stage start
• Fame! Italian riders spot themselves in the lcoal newspaper
• Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) looky comfy on the bike
• Luciano Pagliarini (Lampre) sits comfortably in the peloton
• Stuart O'Grady's mind appears to be elsewhere today
• Nathan O'Neill (Saturn) likes his big gears
• Gordon Fraser (Canada) edges out Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) to take the first sprint at Bukit China
• The peloton winds it way round the streets of Kuala Terengganu
• Koji Fukushima (Japan) and Allan Bo Andresen (Team fakta) attempt to bridge the gap to the three leaders
• Without proper chairs, workers improvise to take a break as the peloton passes by
• Team Saturn lead the peleton in the remaining 50 kilometres
• The race passes through some typical Malaysian countryside, a stone's throw away from the eastern coastal strip
• Roland Green looks the part in his mountains leader's jersey
• Sorry, no time for shopping
• Garcia Oscar Laguna (Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada) chases back to the peloton with supplies
• The trio's days were numbered as the peloton wound up the pace to 55km/h heading into Terengganu
• Graeme Brown (Panaria-Fiordo) first, daylight second
• Brownie lends his thoughts at a post-race interview
• A delighted Graeme Brown (Panaria-Fiordo) on the podium
• Roland Green (Canada) retains his leader's jersey in the King of Mountains classification
• The leaders of the various jersey classifications salute the crowd

Images by Gennie Sheer

• Ruben Bongiorno (Panaria-Fiordo) makes some final adjustments before leaving the start town of Kota Bharu
• Graeme Brown (Panaria-Fiordo) takes the lead in the sprint classification, ahead of his countryman Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole)
• David McKenzie's (Flanders-Iteamnova) knee has seen better days, but the tough as nails Victorian continues to soldier on

Stage 4: Monday February 3, Gerik - Tanah Merah, 172.9 km

Images by Cyclingnews / Anthony Tan

• One of these dancers looks like she's about to run away... or maybe it's the heat from the pavement that's bothering her
• The police motorcade about to take off for another day of laying down the law on the roads
• The Domina Vacanze-Elitron boys get their gear ready in preparation for a long day in the saddle
• The boys from Team Fakta share a laugh before the stage start in Gerik
• Riders from all teams mill around in the shade on the hottest day of the LTdL
• A director's eye view of the race convoy
• Dave McKenzie (Flanders-Iteamnova) grabs some go-go juice from the team car
• No, not Jean-Marie Leblanc, but a commissaire nonetheless
• Willo (Trent Wilson, Flanders-Iteamnova) is disappointed about missing the break, but his group grit their teeth to bridge the gap 10 kilometres later
• The peloton all strung out on the climb of Titiwangsa
• Manager of Flanders-Iteamnova, Francky Van Haesebroucke, looks content now but moments later fired up after the Chief Commissaire initially ruled him out of the race after his rider Ronny Assez was caught hanging onto their second team car
• Plenty of mist, so where's the gorillas?
• The gregarious locals lined the roadside for hours to watch just a few seconds of action, but for them, it was all worth the wait
• The race chopper was feeding live images back to the local television networks during the last two hours of the race
• 20 kilometres to go - last chance for water

Images by Mark Sharon

• Start operations in Gerik
• A Saturn soigneuse adjusts Nathan O'Neill's radio link
• Graeme Brown (Panaria-Fiordo) cuts vents in his cap in preparation for a long, hot day
• A Panaria-Fiordo rider models the peloton's new fashion trend
• Max Sciandri (Lampre) relaxes in the team bus before the start
• Charley Wegelius (De Nardi-Colpack) and his team trainer flex their muscles
• A relaxed Luciano Pagliarini (Lampre) poses for Cyclingnews
• Ruber Alveiro Marin (Colombia-Selle Italia) leads Roland Green (Canada) on the second climb to Titiwangsa
• The yellow jersey of Nathan O'Neill (Saturn) sits comfortably in the front group during the second climb of the day
• The largely intact peloton en route to the summit of the second KOM
• Team Fakta's Bo Andresen and David McKenzie (iTeamnova.com) suffers on Cat 1 climb Titiwangsa
• Philippine rider Enrique Domingo struggles to catch up with the bunch
• Luciano Pagliarini (Lampre) outsprints Graeme Brown (Panaria-Fiordo) and Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) to triumph once again
• Rubens Bertogliati (Lampre) congratulates his teammate Luciano Pagliarini after winning his third stage in three days
• Luciano Pagliarini (Lampre) salutes the crowd on the podium
• Leaders of the various jersey classifications salute the crowd
• The new leader in the KOM competition, Roland Green (Canada), delighted with his effort

Images by Yuzuru Sunada

• Satoshi Hirose (Japan) leads the break of four riders that went clear just before the summit of the KOM of Titiwangsa
• With confidence oozing, Luciano Pagliarini (Lampre) triumphs once again in the bunch gallop to the line
• Luciano Pagliarini (Lampre) shows three fingers to signify his third win in three days
• Marco Pinotti and the rest of Lampre, along with Saturn and Formaggi Pinzolo Fiave' worked tirelessly to bring back the break of four riders with just 5 kilometres remaining

Image by Gennie Sheer

• Err... nice elephant (translation: please don't hurt me)

Stage 3: Sunday February 2, Kulim - Ipoh, 169.6 km

Images by Mark Sharon

• Gordon Fraser (Canada) with plenty of bandages resulting from his injuries yesterday
• Race leader Nathan O'Neill (Saturn) relaxes in the team van before the start
• Luca Mendonca Pagliarini (Lampre) waits to be presented to VIPs at the stage start in Kulim
• Spectators lined the roads to enjoy the race
• The peloton en route to Ipoh
• Thankfully, the riders don't have to compete with the motorway traffic
• The peloton and its entourage wind its way to Ipoh
• Sirous Hashemzadeh (Iran) has a hard day in the saddle, finishing in 106th place
• Saturn lead the charge on a descent to catch the early breakaway
• Luca Mendonca Pagliarini (Lampre) celebrates another stage victory, beating Moreno Di Biase (Formaggi Pinzolo Fiave') and Graeme Brown (Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo)
• Look Mama, no hands!
• Luca Mendonca Pagliarini (Lampre) salutes the crowd
• Luca Mendonca Pagliarini (Lampre) shows off his medal
• Leaders of the various jersey classifications salute the crowd
• Winning is thirsty work

Stage 2: Saturday February 1, Kangar - Butterworth, 148.3 km

Images by Cyclingnews / Anthony Tan

• Let's not work too hard, OK fellas?
• Traditional Malay dancing kicked off proceedings in Kangar

Images by Mark Sharon

• The early leaders pass through the feed zone at 86 kilometres
• Nathan O’Neill (Saturn) in a relaxed mood before the race
• Saturn soigneurs in action at feeding station
• The bunch passes through the finishing circuit in the first of three laps
• The peloton takes a corner at speed through the streets of Butterworth
• The stage winner Luca Mendonca Pagliarini (Lampre) with arms aloft
• Graeme Brown (Panaria) isn't the happiest camper today
• A Telekom Malaysian rider examines his injuries
• Gordon Fraser (Canada) awaits treatment for his war wounds
• Stage winner Luca Mendonca Pagliarini (Lampre) salutes the crowd
• Nathan O’Neill (Saturn) dons another race leader's jersey
• Nathan O’Neill (Saturn) salutes the crowd
• Leaders of the various jerseys stand tall on the podium
• Francesco Moser and veteran Lillo Pietropoli relax on ferry
• The LTdL tour cavalcade sets off for Butterworth
• Stuart O’Grady (Credit Agricole) signs in
• Stuart O’Grady (Credit Agricole) arrives at the start village of Kangar
• One of the many vehicles in the tour cavalcade
• Race Chairman Datok Wan Lokman and Andrea Tafi share a few thoughts
• Datok Wan Lokman thinks Andrea Tafi should be on his way to Butterworth shortly...

Images by Yuzuru Sunada

• The boys from Team Saturn motor down the early breakaway in the closing kilometres of the race
• Koji Fukushima's (Japan) face says it all after more than 100 kilometres out in front
• Sergio Marinangeli (Domina Vacanze-Elitron, L) and Charles Dionne (Saturn) suffered serious injuries resulting from today's crash
• Urbelino Mesa (Colombia-Selle Italia) has certainly experienced better days on the bike
• Luca Mendonca Pagliarini (Lampre) gives it his all in the sprint to the line, beating Graeme Brown (Panaria-Fiordo) by half a wheel
• Luca Mendonca Pagliarini (Lampre) on the podium; shortly after, Pagliarini proudly waves the national flag of Brazil after two years buried in a suitcase

Stage 1: Friday Jan 31, Langkawi Individual Time Trial, 9.5 km

Images by Yuzuru Sunada

• Belgian Dave Bruylandts (Marlux-Ville De Charlerois) rides his first UCI race in his new team strip
• The Cat 3 climb to Leburaya Langkawi was only 110 metres long, but created significant time gaps by the day's end
• Tom Danielson (Saturn) on his limit up the climb
• Roland Green (Canada) takes in some deep breaths on the climb to Leburaya Langkawi
• Paolo Lanfranchi (Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo) has a solid ride to place 19th
• Nathan O'Neill (Saturn) puts down the power on the climb to Leburaya Langkawi
• Nathan O'Neill (Saturn) a elated winner of the first stage of the Le Tour de Langkawi

Images by Mark Sharon

• The various jersey wearers board the podium
• All smiles on the podium: (from left to right) Hossain Askari (Iran), Nathan O'Neill (Saturn) and Fortunato Baliani (Formaggi Pinzolo Fiave')
• Kam-Po Wong (Telekom Malaysia) quickly regains momentum after dropping his chain before the climb to Lebruhraya Langkawi
• Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole) takes a corner at high speed
• Stage one victor Nathan O'Neill (Saturn) salutes the crowd
• Nathan O'Neill (Saturn) shakes the hand of the Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia
• Nathan O'Neill (Saturn) looking psyched before take-off
• Maximilian Sciandri (Lampre) has a late start and consequently finishes in the middle of the field
• Nathan O'Neill (Saturn) finds his trophy a little heavy after going all out in the time trial
• Eric Wohlberg (Saturn) has a great ride to finish fourth

Pre-race press conference and team presentation

Images by Anthony Tan / Cyclingnews

• Race Controller Alan Rushton has a laugh with Stuart O'Grady (Credit Agricole)
• Colombia-Selle Italia take to the stage
• The Japan National Team
• The Philipinnes National Team
• The Canadian National Team
• The South African National Team
• Credit Agricole
• The boys from Lampre
• Danish team Fakta
• Marlux-Ville De Charleroi
• De Nardi-Colpack
• Ceramiche Panaria-Fiordo
• Team Saturn
• Colchon Relax-Fuenlabrada
• Formaggi Pinzolo Fiave'
• Flanders iTeamnova.com
• And finally, the sponsor's own team, which just happens to be named Telekom Malaysia

Training and preparing

Images by Mark Sharon

• Lampre mechanics hard at work preparing the bikes for the riders
• The mechanics are the teams' busiest personnel in the days before a major race
• A Saturn rider training in the city traffic
• Lampre riders training in more picturesque surroundings
• A thumbs-up for the Langkawi sunshine