Jai Crawford on the attack in last year's race. (Image credit: Shane Goss)
By Greg Johnson in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Australia's Jai Crawford (Australian National Team) is hoping to finish the Tour of Langkawi's decisive stage to Genting Highlands in the top three today. Crawford took fifth place on the stage during its last inclusion in the race in 2007.
"I did well there a few years ago so I'd like to do better, I'd like to get on the podium," he told Cyclingnews. "It just suits me so well, obviously because it's a mountaintop finish and it's steep. It suits my power to weight ratio really well."
The rider has been training for the race-deciding climb in his home state of Tasmania. Despite moving from Trek Marco Polo to the Australian Savings and Loan squad this year, the 25-year-old is again focusing on results in Langkawi and his other favoured race, the Tour of Qinghai Lake.
"I feel really good, but I don't want to make any bold predictions because you never know what's going to happen," he said. "I've been training really well and I'm in the best condition I ever have been – I've been climbing really well down in Tassie."
Crawford has enjoyed much success while racing in Asia. In 2007 he won the Tour of Siam, and has taken top three placings on stages in the Tour de Taiwan, Tour of East Java, Tour of Japan and Tour of Thailand.
The rider has already enjoyed success this season by claiming victory at the Tour of Wellington's Stage 3 with his new trade squad.
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