If the rest of the 2007 Tour de Langkawi comes off like Thursday’s team unveiling, it’s a safe bet that the scandal-scarred race has put its past troubles in the rearview mirror.

Following a year in which financial uncertainty and in-fighting between controlling factions put the event’s future in doubt, the Malaysian national tour popped the cork on its 12th edition during a pomp-and-circumstance filled ceremony along the boardwalk of the posh seaside Awana Hotel on the island of Langkawi.

“It will difficult to make people forget the issues of unpaid debts that the race faced in the past,” conceded event CEO Datuk Naim Mohamad. “But we believe this year’s race will be up to the task.”

With that Mohamad turned the microphone over to famed race announcers David Duffield and Paul Sherwen who proceeded to introduce the 23 teams that will contest the 10-day, 1373-kilometer race. Among the 137 riders called up to the stage was 2006 overall winner David George. The 30-year-old South African national team leader admitted defending his title wouldn’t be easy.

“My expectations are always high but I’m not taking anything for granted,” said George who finished 1:52 ahead of Crédit Agricole’s Francesco Bellotti a year ago.

Translation: George is realistic. After winning the event against a weaker field in 2006, he’ll brush shoulders with riders from five ProTour teams when he rolls to the start line of stage 1 on Friday.

Among the big names that will contest the 82km loop of Langkawi are Frenchmen Thomas Voeckler (Bouygues Telecom) and Sandy Casar (Française des Jeux), plus über climber Jose Rujano (Unibet.com). The diminutive Venezuelan is the early favorite for overall victory at a race that hinges on the stage 8’s ascent of the famed Genting Highlands climb.

“On Sunday’s stage up into the Cameron Highlands I think we will see who has good legs,” predicted Voeckler of stage 3’s 133km effort that concludes with a gradual category 1 ascent. “But I think the best will wait for Genting.”

Voeckler said he doesn’t expect to factor in the overall, but instead would settle for some solid training miles and possibly a stage win.

“For most of the Europeans this is the first race of the year so you really don’t know what your condition will be like,” he said. “I’m not saying I’m going to just follow wheels the whole time, but it’s probably too early for me to go for GC.

George, meanwhile, will give everything to defend but pointed to the ProTour teams and Colombian-based outfit Serramenti PVC as threats.

“I think we’ll find out a lot in the first three days,” he guessed. “The Colombians always come with a bit of condition. We might see something from the Aussies who’ve just come from Tour Down Under. Every day is important because there is a big difference in the skill level of the group. You have to be awake. If we don’t get caught out we should be okay and be there to defend.”

2007 Tour de Langkawi
February 2 - Langkawi, 81kmFebruary 3 - Kangar-Kulim, 166kmFebruary 4 - Kuala Kangsar-Cameron Highlands, 133kmFebruary 5 - Gua Musang-Kota Bharu, 178kmFebruary 6 - Kota Bharu-Kuala Terengganu, 176kmFebruary 7 - Kuala Terengganu-Cukai, 142kmFebruary 8 - Kuatan-Karak, 170kmFebruary 9 - Proton, Shah Alam-Genting Highlands, 84kmFebruary 10 - Putrajaya-Seremban, 173kmFebruary 11 - Kuala Lumpur Criterium, 80km

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Past Winners
2006 David George (SA) South African National
2005 Ryan Cox (SA) Barloworld
2004 Freddy Gonzalez (Col) Colombia Selle-Italia
2003 Tom Danielson (USA) Saturn
2002 Hernan Dario Munoz (Col) Colombia-Selle
2001 Paolo Lanfranchi (I) Mapei-Quickstep
2000 Chris Horner (USA) Mercury
1999 Paolo Lanfranchi (I) Mapei-Quickstep
1998 Gabrielle Missaglia (I) Mapei
1997 Luca Scinto (I) MG-Technogym
1996 Damian Mcdonald (Aus) Giant