AISAN AIM FOR BIG IMPACT IN LTDL DEBUT
18/02/2010

KUALA LUMPUR - Established Japanese continental outfit Aisan Racing Team will be making their long-awaited debut in the 15th edition of Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) from March 1 to 7 with an aim of creating an impact on the flat stages of the 2.HC race, Asia's biggest cycling event.

Having contested a multitude of 2.2 and 2.1 status races around the region previously, this squad handled by Mitsuteru Tanaka is pinning its hopes on its best six riders and have headed straight for Kota Bharu where the official flag off for the event will be held on March 1.

Leading Aisan Racing Team's challenge will be the experienced Masahiro Shinagawa, who was formerly on the books of Pro Tour team Skil-Shimano.

Apart from his experiences in the biggest races in Asia like the Tour of Okinawa, Tour de Korea, the Jayco Herald Sun Tour and the Jelajah Malaysia, Shinagawa has also tasted action in the biggest spring classic, the Paris-Roubaix in France.

Shinagawa, the former Japanese under-23 road champion, will be assisted by another sprinter, 29-year old Taiji Nishitani who had represented his country in the World Championships in Medrisio, Switzerland last year.

Nishitani, a stage winner in the Jelajah Malaysia in 2009, to top his stage wins in the Tour of Singkarak and Tour of East Java, is one of the most decorated sprinters in Asia.

The Hiroshima-born rider has been the Japanese national road champion on two occasions in 2006 and 2009, while also bagging the Asian riders' classification in the Tour de Taiwan in 2008.

The third sprinter in Aisan's squad is 28-year old Kazuhiro Mori, who had represented Japan in the madison at the Track World Championships. His capabilities on road had been proven when he bagged two second placed finishes in two stages of the Herald Sun Tour in Australia in 2008. He is also the reigning Japanese national time trial champion.

Aisan's challenger for a top position in the overall general classification will be 30-year old Takumi Beppu, a former rider with the star team of Mapei in the 1990s.

Beppu, who hails from Chikasagi, has previously donned the colours of the Jura-Suisse team in 2002 and Nippon-Hodo in 2003 and joined Aisan Racing Team in 2006. His biggest successes have been a stage win in the Tour of Japan in 2004, a stage win in the Tour of East Java and a 20th overall placing in the general classification in the Tour of Japan last year.

Beppu will be assisted by 29-year old Kenichi Suzuki and 30-year old Takeaki Ayabe, who will be making a return after a long lay-off due to broken hip following a crash in the Herald Sun Tour last year.

Takeaki had represented the Miyata-Subaru team in 2005 and placed eighth overall both in the Tour of Hokkaido in 2009 and the Tour of East Java.

AISAN RACING TEAM
Manager: Misuteru Tanaka
Riders: Taiji Nishitani, Takumi Beppu, Takeaki Ayabe, Kazuhiro Mori, Masahiro Shinagawa, Kenichi Suzuki

The 15th edition of the UCI (Hors Category) stage race will take place from Kota Bharu - Kuala Berang (174.5km); Kuala Terengganu - Chukai (182.3km); Pekan - Mersing (145.6km); Mersin-Parit Sulong (163.5km); Muar - Port Dickson (111.5km) Putrajaya - Genting Highlands (102.8km) and Kuala Kubu Baru - Dataran Merdeka (133.7km), covering a total distance of 1013.9km.

A total of 120 riders from 20 teams including two local teams are expected to take part in the event, Le Tour de Langkawi 2010.

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