Photos by Daniel Carruthers
Jake Keough’s 2nd place finish in Stage 10 of the 2012 Le Tour de Langkawi wraps up a spectacular race for the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
The 2012 Le Tour de Langkawi came to a close Sunday, March 4, in familiar fashion for the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team, as Jake Keough’s (USA) 2nd place finish in Stage 10 enabled the sprinter to secure his fourth podium appearance overall for the Tour. The final stanza of the race’s 17th edition saw Keough’s performance bested only by none other than Italian Andrea Guardini of Farnese Vini – Selle Italia, who scored his 5th stage win of the race and his record breaking 12th Le Tour de Langkawi stage win. Colnago CSF Inox’s Sonny Colbrelli (ITA) finished 3rd while Colombian José Serpa captured the overall victory, his second Tour de Langkawi win in four years (Serpa won in 2009).
The final stage of the 1,415.5km Tour de Langkawi encompassed 116.9km and took the peloton from Tasik Kenyir to Kuala Terengganu (also the site of the finish for Stage 9). For Keough, Kuala Terengganu marked the site of his fourth podium appearance of the Tour and sixth top 10 finish overall (2nd Stage 2, 6th Stage 3, 2nd Stage 4, 3rd Stage 8, 4th Stage 9, 2nd Stage 10). But Keough didn’t get there alone. The effort from his Teammates to consistently deliver him to the finish was monumental. Under the guidance of Team Director Eric Greene, Team Captain Jonny Clarke (AUS) led the charge along with Robert Förster (GER), Hilton Clarke (AUS), Karl Menzies (AUS), and Adrian Hegyvary (USA). The six-man crew collectively battled illness, injury, fatigue and extreme heat to ensure the Team’s success.
The 10-day Le Tour de Langkawi began on February 24 with an individual time trial along a 20.3km course in Putrajaya. Stage 2 took the peloton from Putrajaya to Melaka (151.0km) and Stage 3 saw the group ride 187.6km from Ayer Keroh to Parit Sulong. Stage 4 was a 169.4km trek from Batu Pahat to Muar, while Stage 5 took the pack on a 190km journey from Ayer Keroh to Pandan. Stage 6 encompassed 108km on the Proton Shah Alam to Genting Highlands, and Stage 7 covered the biggest distance of the race, a 205.8km odyssey from Bentong to Kuantan. Stage 8, Pekan to Chukai was 100.8km, followed by Stage 9 from Kemasik to Kuala Terengganu at 165.7km. The spectacular tour culminated with the peloton racing 114.8km from dan Tasik Kenyir to Kuala Terengganu.