KUALA TERENGGANU, Feb 26 — The presence of English coach Julian John Winn is expected to boost the Terengganu Professional Cycling (TSG) team’s chances in the 2014 Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) which starts tomorrow.

TSG team manager Fazin Saad said since John Winn, 45, is an experienced cycling coach and a former rider, his expertise would be a big boost to the TSG team that starts its quest in the LTdL which starts tomorrow in Langkawi and ends in Kuala Terengganu.

“He (John Winn) has represented England in various high level competitions, including the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics,” he told Bernama, here today adding that the Englishman arrived in Kuala Terengganu two days ago.

He said John Winn who would replace Italian coach Sebastian Duclos whose contract expired recently, was no stranger to Malaysia as he had raced here during the 1998 Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games.

Fazin said the 16 TSG riders, including two imports, Muradjan Halmuretov (Uzbekistan) and Maarten de Jonge (Holland), are expected to be given valuable tips in preparation for the competition and during the competition.

However, the main riders for the LTdL are Anuar Manan, Zamari Salleh, Hariff Salleh, Mohd Adiq Hussainie Othman, Mohd Shahrul Mat Amin and Mohammad Saufi Mat Senan.

Meanwhile, newcomer to the TSG team, Mohd Aziq Hussainie Othman hopes to use his vast experience with the national team, to assist TSG in its quest to make an impact in the LTdL.

The rider, who represented the country at the 2012 London Olympics, is raring for action and hopes to assist his team mates to do well in the tour that starts tomorrow.

“My main focus is to make a valuable contribution to ensure the team do well,” he said.

Organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports through the National Sports Council (NSC), in association with the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF), the 19th edition of the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) from Feb 27 to March 8, is set to cover a distance of 1,495.9km over 10 stages.

The UCI 2.HC (hors category) race featuring one of the biggest events on the UCI Asia Tour calendar will also see a number of professional teams competing. — Bernama