BALING – Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) organising committee chairman Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail said that the driver of the van transporting members of the Giant Cycling Team which crashed earlier has been replaced.
The Giant Cycling Team are an International Cycling Union Continental Team participating in the LTdL.
“There was an accident involving a van transporting three riders, a team staff member and a support driver.
“The accident happened at KM34 heading to Baling, the driver lost control of the vehicle at a corner and overturned,” he said at a press conference after the completion of Stage 3 today.
The accident victims were van driver Mohd Mazuan Mansor, Giant Cycling riders Huang Junlei, Lin Chuanyang, Wang Zichen and team masseuse Chang Yunhao.
Of the five, one rider, the driver and the team’s staff were sent to the hospital and were all discharged after receiving treatment.
Shapawi added that the driver of the van will be replaced and a police report has been lodged at Jeli IPD.
“He sped past the starting line, and as he turned back the accident happened.
“The driver has been replaced as he suffered minor injuries and we don’t want his mental state to be disturbed.
“Secondly, there is some negligence that happened which caused him to miss the starting line,” added Shapawi.
Giant Cycling Team manager, Song Guo Qiang is pleased that his team members did not suffer any serious injuries.
“Incidents like this happen very rarely, I believe the organisers will give us an appropriate explanation.
“For the race tomorrow, I’m waiting on a full medical report and to see the condition of my riders.
“But whatever happens, we will continue with the race. I would like to have at least two riders in the race.
“I was worried not only for the lives of my riders but also our driver. When I was informed that no lives were lost and no one suffered serious injuries I was so relieved,” he said.
He added the Giant Cycling Team has been taking part in LTdL since 2017 as the ProSeries tour is among the biggest in Asia. – September 25, 2023