KULAI — As the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) reaches its sixth stage today, the field of riders has thinned, highlighting the fierce competition in this year’s race.
Of the original 132 riders who started last Thursday, only 103 remain after a week of intense racing.
Among those eliminated are Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) sprint specialist Harrif Salleh and last year’s LTdL champion, Simon Carr of EF Education-EasyPost, both falling victim to the gruelling routes.
Some teams that began with six riders are now down to just three or four as they prepare for the final two stages in Miri and Bintulu.
The HKSI Pro Cycling team has been hit hardest, now reduced to just two riders—Mow Ching Yin and Tso Kai Kwong.
Their troubles began when Chun Tsun Wai was eliminated during the third stage’s climb from Taiping to Cameron Highlands.
Things worsened in the following stage from Kuala Kubu Bahru to Bentong, where three more riders—Ng Pak Hang, Ng Sum Lui, and Lai Chun Kin—failed to finish within the time limit.
Speaking to Scoop, Ching Yin admitted that the LTdL has become much tougher since his first race in 2014, even though it featured 10 stages back then.
“This year’s race has been very challenging. Even with only two of us left, I think it’s been a valuable experience for my teammates who are out, especially the younger ones in their first LTdL.
“Even though we’re down in numbers, we’ll still try to break away if any opportunities arise in the last two stages.
“But there are a lot of top riders, including some from WorldTeams. Still, with two stages left, especially tomorrow, it’s going to be a long day for us.
“Luckily, this year’s race is only 8 days compared to previous editions. LTdL is a prestigious race in Asia, and it’s a great opportunity for me and my team, which is why we love coming here to compete,” said Ching Yin.
In addition to HKSI Pro Cycling, several other teams are also running low on riders, including the Philippines national team, Nusantara, Ara Skip Capital, and Corratec Vini Fantini, all with just three riders remaining.
Manuele Tarozzi of VF Group Bardiani CSF claimed victory in today’s sixth stage, racing from Batu Pahat to Kulai.
The seventh stage, covering 199.3KM, will begin tomorrow from Miri to Bintulu. — October 4, 2024