LTDL: Alternative routes available in case of floods

Alternative routes will be provided if the prestigious Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) cycling race is affected by floods, according to its organiser.

The 18th edition of the race from Feb 21 to March 2 involves 10 stages covering 1,427.6 kilometres.

"We are in the process of identifying suitable alternative routes. The race follows UCI guidelines and stages passable must proceed while those not, will be classified as neutral (all riders will be given the same points)," LTdL chief operating officer Emir Abdul Jalal told Bernama when met at his office here today/

Emir said now that floods were subsiding in the east coast, LTdL's logistics team would be carrying another round of monitoring on the routes there to ensure they would be safe for the riders.

The last time the organisers had to resort to an alternative route was on Jan 31, 2011, which was Stage 9 of the race from Melaka to Nilai then.

The 151.7-km stage was shortened by 18.7 kilometres with a new route following floods breaking out on the original route, at Alor Gajah, Durian Tunggal, Linggi and Rantau.

As a result, the sprint zones at Linggi and Rantau (Km 83.8) and Mantin (Km134.7) and climb zone at Lenggeng could not proceed leaving only two sprint zones available, at Sungai Udang and Rembau.

In other developments, Emir said LTdL 2013 would stil go on even if the general election is called during the race period.

For the record, two international championships proceeded as usual during a general election in the country.

They were the Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix in 2004 (March 21) at the Sepang Circuit and the Malaysian Open Golf Championship in 2008 (March 8) at the Kota Permai Golf and Country Club, Kota Kemuning, Selangor.