KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8, 2009 (AFP) – Defending champions Diquigiovanni-Androni from Venezuela are favourites to claim the yellow jersey once again in this year’s Tour de Langkawi, which begins Monday.

Twenty teams are competing in the seven-stage event, which takes in some of Malaysia’s top tourist spots over the 1,031.7 kilometre (641 mile) route — scaled down from nine stages last year.

Last year’s winner Ruslan Ivanov from Moldova is not returning, having switched from road racing to mountain biking, but Diquigiovanni-Androni is rated highly in what will be the first event of the year for most participants.

“But we have a major problem,” team manager Gianni Savio said.

“As defending champions, we have the first numbers on the starting list and that means everybody will watch us. The question for us is: how to control the race? With a six-man team, it’s not an easy task.”

Savio welcomed the seven-day format for the early-season race.

“It’s enough for setting a proper hierarchy into the field. In seven days, there’s no room for improvisation. The real best riders will have the opportunity to emerge,” he said.

The tour no longer extends to the resort island of Langkawi in Malaysia’s north after which it was named.

Instead it will begin at the administrative capital of Putrajaya, south of Kuala Lumpur, and then head down to the tourist town of Malacca on Malaysia’s west coast.

It then heads up the steep road to the Genting Highlands, a gambling and entertainment centre in the hills outside the capital, before sweeping back to Kuala Lumpur for the final stage.

Team list:
BBOX Bouygues Telecom: FRA
AG2r La Mondiale: FRA
Garmin Slipstream: USA
Fuji-Servetto: ESP
CSF Group: IRE
Diquigiovanni-Androni: VEN
ISD: ITA
Cervelo Test Team: SUI
Vorarlberg-Corratec: AUT
Seoul Cycling: KOR
EQA-Meitan Hompo – Graphite Design: JPN
MNCF Cycling Team: MAS
Letua Cycling Team: MAS
Doha Team: QAT
Malaysia National Team: MAS
Australia National Team: AUS
South Africa National Team: RSA
China National Team: CHN
Iran National Team: IRI
Kazakhstan National Team: KAZ