On February 24, one of Asia’s biggest races, the Tour de Langkawi, will kick off its 21st edition. The Malaysian race is using a new route over its eight days, but the Genting Highlands queen stage climb is off the menu once more for another season due to reparations.

"With the new tagline ‘Redefining Asia's Ultimate Challenge', we've got great plans, not only for this year," said Minister of Youth and Sports YB Khairy Jamaluddin. "We believe our product is better than the other tours in Asia. We provide unforgettable experiences for the riders. In twenty years of existence, Le Tour de Langkawi has not only put Malaysia on the map of Asian cycling but all over the world."

It is reckoned that fours stages will be sprints, but the other four are open to breakaways, climbers and puncheurs.

"Out of eight stages, four will likely end in a bunch sprint but four can have different scenarios," technical director Jamaluddin Mahmood told Cyclingnews. One of the interesting new courses will be on stage 2 to the island of Penang. It contains two serious climbs before the finish in Georgetown, which was an iconic location during the first four editions of Le Tour de Langkawi. The recent construction of Penang Second Bridge allows the first visit of the race in the 21st century.

Eleven of the 22 teams will be from the WorldTour and ProContinental division.