KUALA LUMPUR – National cyclist Mohd Harrif Saleh hopes to represent the Terengganu Polygon Cycling Team (TSG) once again in the upcoming Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL), scheduled to take place from September 29 to October 6.
Harrif currently holds the record for the most appearances in LTdL with 14, surpassing the previous record of 13 held by Iranian cyclist Ghader Mizbani.
Among the top appearance holders in LTdL history are former national cyclists Anuar Manan and Loh Sea Keong, each with 12 appearances.
Despite being 35 years old, Harrif is undeterred in his pursuit of success with TSG, drawing inspiration from his idol, British cyclist Mark Cavendish who rides for Astana Qazaqstan.
“For me, age is just a number. I still have the energy to keep racing and to bring TSG to the pinnacle of success.
“I want to follow in the footsteps of my idol, Mark Cavendish. Even at 39, he is still competing at a high level. That’s what I aim to do for the next few years. As long as my services and strength are needed, I will keep cycling,” he said.
“As I mentioned before, I feel fortunate and proud to make history with the most appearances in LTdL. If I’m not mistaken, I started racing in LTdL when I was 20. So if I get the team’s trust to compete again this year, it will be another special moment for me.
“For now, I am training as usual. There is an upcoming competition in China, so I will do my best,” he explained.
Harrif, also known as Mamat, secured victories in Stage 2 of LTdL 2019 and Stages 2 and 5 of LTdL 2020.
With three LTdL stage wins, Harrif is considered one of Malaysia’s top road cyclists in history.
“My journey is not over. I hope to succeed more in my career, especially in LTdL, which is held in our own country,” he added.
A total of 22 teams, including three World Teams – EF Education Easypost from the United States, Astana Qazaqstan Team (Kazakhstan), and DSM Firminich PostNL (Netherlands) – will participate in LTdL 2024.
The 28th edition of LTdL will cover eight stages and a distance of 1,227.2 km.
Langkawi returns to the route this year, which also includes two stages in Sarawak, in the cities of Miri and Bintulu, for the first time. – August 6, 2024