KUALA LUMPUR: With just two UCI WorldTour teams on the startlist, Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) on March 18-25 may, at first glance, seem to lack some excitement. However, based on the outcome of recent editions, carrying UCI WorldTour status is not a guarantee of success, with teams from the lower tiers proving they are equally capable of success in this race. Guardini became synonymous with LTdL since then, returning with different teams, including Astana, with similarly incredible results. Ironically, Bardiani-CSF is also the team that featured the previous LTdL record stage winner, Greame Brown of Australia, whose record nine stage wins and five stage wins in a single edition, Guardini broke in 2012. Aptly earning the nickname ‘Mr Langkawi’ for being so prolific in this race, Guardini will this time have to see off his main challengers in the bunch sprints, expected be led by 33-year old Manuel Belletti of Androni Giocattoli, a former stage winner in the Giro d'Italia with team Ag2r.

Source: New Strait Times March 11, 2018 13:18 UTC