Tour de Lengkawi stage canceled<\/p>\n
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): The second stage of the one million
\nringgit (US$400,000) Tour de Langkawi, one of Asia's richest
\ncycling races, was cancelled after three professional teams
\npulled out complaining of poor organization, reports said
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
Race organizers First Cartel said the stage in Malaysia's
\nSarawak state was cancelled after teams complained of damaged
\ncycles, missing luggage and a seven-hour flight delay, the New
\nStraits Times said.<\/p>\n
Three teams, Mapei and MG from Italy and Casino from France,
\ninitially wanted to withdraw from the entire race but later
\nagreed to continue from the third stage in southern Johor state.<\/p>\n
The cancellation of the second stage, announced by the
\nInternational Cycling Union (ICU), shortened the 12-stage Tour by
\none leg.<\/p>\n
The scheduled 123.3-kilometer second stage around the Sarawak
\ncapital of Kuching was replaced with an unofficial criterium of
\nsix 8.8 kilometer laps and the prize money was reduced by 10
\npercent.<\/p>\n
A statement from First Cartel said 150 riders from 25 teams as
\nwell as accompanying officials had a seven-hour wait at the
\nairport in eastern Sabah state before their chartered flight left
\nfor Kuching.<\/p>\n
Some riders were upset to find their bicycles damaged, while
\nseveral complained of missing luggage, including Malaysian coach
\nJohn Hardekev, the daily said.<\/p>\n
Italian rider Gianni Bugno, who won the World Championships in
\n1991 (Munich) and 1992 (Spain), said his Mapei team may not
\nparticipate in the Tour next year.<\/p>\n
"We can only judge the Tour after enduring it," Bugno told the
\nNew Straits Times.<\/p>\n
MG and Casino were also reported to have threatened not to
\ncompete next year if conditions did not improve.<\/p>\n
Eric Wohlberg of Canada won the first stage in Sabah, while
\nthe unofficial Kuching race went to Frank McCormack of the United
\nStates' Saturn team, ahead of Glen Mitchell of New Zealand with
\nMariano Friedick, another Saturn rider, third.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/tour-de-lengkawi-stage-canceled-1447893297",
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