A glance over the favourites for the 2017 Tour de Langkawi reveals a start list divided into Italian sprinters and Colombian climbers. While the fast men have numerous opportunities to press their claims for stage success, the climbers will have to scrap over just the one stage up Cameron Highlands.
Egan Bernal, the eighth youngest rider in the race at 20, is one of those riders aiming for success on the stage 4 summit. The Colombian is into the second of his four-year deal with Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec and makes his Asian racing debut this week at the eight-stage 2.HC event in Malaysia.
"My preparation for the race has gone pretty well. I have trained a lot ahead of the season, as I want to have a very good year," Bernal said via a translator at the pre-race press conference.
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Asia's premier stage race is Bernal's second outing for the season after his ninth place and best young rider victory at last month's Vuelta a San Juan.
"The Tour de Langkawi seems to be a good race for me. I have already raced before in Argentina at the Vuelta a San Juan and I felt good. I want to do well here," said Bernal.
Prior to commencing his road career, the lithe climber displayed his potential on the dirt with silver and bronze in the junior men's mountain bike at the 2014 and 2015 world championships. In 2016, Bernal's first season on the road brought immediate success as he won the best young rider classifications at the Coppi e Bartali, Giro del Trentino and Tour of Slovenia. He also won the UCI 2.2 Tour of Bihor and finished fourth overall at the Tour de l'Avenir.
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