KUANTAN: Italian riders have a long history of doing well at Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) — they have won 96 stages since the tour started in 1996.
Andrea Guardini holds the record with 24 LTdL stage wins during his career, earning himself the nickname Mr Langkawi.
The latest in a long line of Italian sprinters to dominate LTdL is XDS Astana Team’s Matteo Malucelli, who has already won three out of four stages in this year’s tour.
He also won three stages in the tour en route to taking the orange jersey (points classification) victory last year.
When asked why Italians have done so well at LTdL over the years, Malucelli said he was unsure but did have some theories.
“I don’t know, maybe it is because Italians are used to training in hot weather,” said Malucelli.
“In Italy, the humidity is different, however, the warmth and the temperature is the same in summer.
“Maybe we have a special feeling with this country.”
Andrea Tafi was the first Italian to win an LTdL stage in 1997. He won two stages that year.
Alberto Loddo, Ivan Quaranta, Enrico Degano, Mattia Gavazzi, Paolo Bettini, Danilo Celano and Matteo Pelucchi are among the other Italians who have won at LTdL.
LTdL has made a name for itself as a sprinters’ tour due to the high number of stages included each year that are suitable for bunch sprint finishes.
Malucelli, 31, is expected to have at least three more opportunities to fight for a stage win (stage six, seven and eight) in the ongoing tour this year.
– NST
