Malaysian's five-month time test

In stark contrast to Saturday's 1,150 kilometre-long prologue in Reggio Calabria, 19 year-old Malaysian Ng Yong Li's time test, who was recently offered a contract to ride for Liberty Seguros-Würth's feeder team, will have up to five months to prove himself before the final outcome is decided.

"When he gets here, he will have to three, four or five months to prove himself," the team's public relations manager Jacinto Vidarte said on the New Straits Times.

"At the end of the period, there are only two positives. If he is very good, he definitely gets a contract; if he is good enough, then he will be considered. In case there is a tussle with other riders for the contract, then his marketability or sponsorship prospects will swing it in his favour," added Vidarte.

While the Liberty Seguros ProTour team is managed by Manolo Saiz, former rider Pablo Anton manages the under 23 squad. "We believe this will be good for Yong Li and, more importantly, for Malaysian cycling," Vidarte said. "It is interesting to see how well a Malaysian cyclist can do in Europe."