By Arman Armero

KUALA LUMPUR?Le Tour de Langkawi, one of Malaysia?s biggest sporting spectacles and undisputedly Asia?s finest cycling event, wheels off today in a 133.8-kilometer ride from Putrajaya to Senawang, kicking off a short seven-stage race that lured 120 riders representing all five continents and 20 teams.

But it is in Genting Highlands, designated the fifth stage in this year?s race after a year?s absence, that could make or break a team?s chances of winning the overall championship with its steep climbs and perilous curves, a treacherous 102-km journey, which will start at Petaling Jaya.

?Last year, our team won without a stage in the Genting Highlands. This year, it?s going to be difficult. I think if we can break away in the first four stages and have a good climb at Genting, we have a great chance of winning again,? said Gianni Savio, team manager of Diquigiovanni-Androni, which won the overall title last year.

The team, which also won in 2002 and 2004, topped last year?s Tour with Ruslan Ivanov leading the way. Ivanov did not rejoin the team this year, and will now rely on Jose Rodolfo Serpa Perez, a noted climber and sprint specialist Carlos Jose Ochoa. The other members of the six-man squad are Manuel Belletti, Luco Celli, Mattio Gavazzi and Jackson Rodriguez.

Nineteen other teams are in the hunt for Asia?s top cycling prize, including the national teams of Kazakhstan, a first-timer here, Iran, China, South Africa and Malaysia.

The Pro Tour teams are Bbox Bouygues Telecom, with its lone Asian rider Yukiyo Rashiro of Japan; Ag2r La Mondiale, Garmin-Slipstream (US) and Fuji Servetto while the Pro Continental Teams are comprised of CSF-Group Navigare, ISD, Cervelo Test Team and Vorarlberg-Corratec.