Dataran Putra, Putrajaya 7 January 2008 - The beginning of 2008 marks another edition of the oldest bicycle race in Malaysia. Since the inception in 1963, it had never been an annual affair due to the limitations & constraints in the days of old. However, it became one of the most popular cycling tour in Asia during the 70\'s until the late 80\'s. Last year saw an awakening of Jelajah Malaysia, as Asia\'s top riders & teams competed in a true Asian battlefield where three out of seven stage-wins became the biggest ever achievement by our riders in any UCI\'s 2.2 race. The first stage from Putrajaya to Port Dickson is not the typical start for riders who rode in the first stage of the previous year\'s edition in 2007. Four KOMs, three sprints and a long rollercoaster 185km journey proves to be an inexorable march at the start of JM2008. Though the climbs at Mantin, Bukit Putus, Ulu Bendul and Senaling are not as tough as those at Genting, Cameron Highlands or Fraser\'s Hills, the long winding climbs will summon riders to a test of might at the JM2008. The quest for the sprint jersey is not going to benefit the sprinters as the last two sprint spots are located within the KOMs zone. A definite breakaway will take charge after the first sprint as climbers make their way to collect full points of the exciting four KOMs. The question of who will wear the overall red jersey of the first stage winner of JM2008 lies in the last 60kms. Whether the peloton will rise to the occasion to reconcile the distance from the breakaway group is a question which can only be answered by the the riders when they overcome their mental challenges. [More] [Less]
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