Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

Skil-Shimano with a strong Dutch-Japanese alliance

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Parent Category: Cycling Pro Road & Mtb

Category: News 2010

Published on Tuesday, 21 December 2010 10:08

Written by Luca Salvatelli

Skil-Shimano will be a team to watch during the 2011 Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) from January 23rd to February 1st. They’ll return to Malaysia with a strong line up of sprinters and high ambitions for their Japanese climber Yukihiro Doi who is no stranger to the event as he already made the top 10 overall in 2007 and he has improved a lot since.

"We’ll come with strong and motivated riders, including our sprinter Kenny van Hummel who collected five bunch sprint victories in 2009 and ten in 2010", warned team manager Iwan Spekenbrink. Van Hummel became famous during the 2009 Tour de France, the only one the Skil-Shimano team took part in, as he struggled alone in the mountains and fought hard with the label of lanterne rouge (the last rider on GC). His courage touched the heart of media and fans but he’s above all a great sprinter likely to shine as a stage winner at LTdL.

The Japanese branch of the Skil-Shimano previously took part in the event but this will be the first participation of the established and well respected Dutch-based squad. Doi is the link between the two sponsors. He remained the only Japanese on the roster but he’s also one of the best climbers in the team. In 2007, he led the Asian classification of Le Tour de Langkawi for a few days but eventually passed the blue jersey onto Iran’s Ghader Mizbani. He finished eighth on GC in an edition that featured Tour de France stage winners Thomas Voeckler, Sylvain Calzati and Sandy Casar, just to name a few. Since then, Doi has moved to the Netherlands and improved both his English and his cycling skills. He finished sixth in the 2010 Tour of Turkey won by Italian star Giovanni Visconti. “I’m happy with my development as a cyclist with Skil-Shimano”, said the Japanese who is a potential winner for the 2011 LTdL overall.

In this Dutch-Japanese alliance, another ace will be Mitchell Docker from Australia. He led the 2008 Le Tour de Langkawi for one day riding for Drapac-Porsche before heading to Europe. He’s a fast rider who will target stage wins. Skil-Shimano’s recruit from the defunct Cervélo TestTeam Martin Reimer who was the 2009 German national champion will be another super talent to be watched closely during the ten days of racing.

"The participation of Skil-Shimano to Le Tour de Langkawi will bring media attention from the Netherlands but also from Japan, Australia and Germany, that’s why we’re delighted to have them racing on Malaysian soil”, said the CEO of Le Tour de Langkawi Mohamed Salleh. “Most of these riders and their staff have never visited the beautiful island of Langkawi, where we’re bringing the start of the race back after three years. I’m pretty sure they’ll love the place."

SKIL-SHIMANO TEAM LINE UP:

TEAM MANAGER: Iwan Spekenbrink

RIDERS: Mitchell DOCKER (Aus), Koen DE KORT (Ned), Kenny VAN HUMMEL (Ned), Albert TIMMER (Ned), Yukihiro DOI (Jap) and Martin REIMER (Ger).

Le Tour de Langkawi 2011 is organized by the Youth and Sports Ministry of Malaysia together with the Malaysian National Cycling Federation. The 2011 Tour is scheduled to be held from 23rd January to 1st February covers a total distance of 1315.4 kms with 10 stages, starting in Langkawi Island and ending at Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur.

Photos by Le Tour de Langkawi 2011