BUTTERWORTH – Several riders in the second stage of Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) were rushed to the hospital after being involved in a major crash in Butterworth today.
The race, which started in Arau, Perlis, covering 154.5 kilometers, saw riders crash just 100 meters from the finish line in Butterworth, Penang, today.
The cause of the crash has yet to be determined, but among those who crashed were Malaysia’s Mohd Elmi Jumari, as well as riders from the Philippines and Thailand.
Elmi was also penalised by the commissaire for obstructing another rider, resulting in his relegation to the last place in the overall standings and a fine of 200 Swiss Francs (RM975.80).
However, all riders involved in the crash were credited with the winner’s time of 3:34:58.
For the Malaysian coach, Mohd Yusof Nasir, this is a concerning situation, as Elmi plays a crucial role as a sprinter for the national team.
“The team staff informed us that his condition is worrying, and we may potentially lose him for the upcoming stages of the race.
“I was informed that the medical team suspects Elmi’s left index finger is broken, but he is in stable condition with no other serious injuries.
“The hospital is currently providing the best treatment for Elmi, and if the finger is indeed broken, he will need surgery.
“This will somewhat disrupt our team’s plans, but it can still be fixed. The Malaysian team is still capable of delivering good results; we just need to push harder for the next stages,” said Yusof when met at the Hospital Seberang Prai.
Earlier, another Malaysian rider, Tsen Ren Bao, was also involved in a crash with JCL Ukyo’s Yuma Koichi at kilometer 75. However, both riders managed to recover and rejoin the peloton.
In addition to Elmi, Nur Aiman Rosli from Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) was also caught in the crash.
Despite the incident, he pushed through and crossed the finish line, and fortunately, the crash did not affect his chances of defending the white jersey as the best Asian rider.
“I felt like a victim of circumstance because the collision happened right in front of me, and I had no choice but to get caught up in the crash, unable to veer left or right.
“Fortunately, I managed to hold onto this jersey, but the race is still long, and I hope to keep wearing it until the end,” said Aiman.
Meanwhile, Matteo Malucelli won today’s race, while Gleb Syritsa from Astana Qazaqstan retained both the green jersey for overall leader and the orange jersey for the sprint king.
Tyler Tomkinson from Ara Skip Capital kept the polka dot jersey for the King of the Mountains, as there were no climbing zones in today’s race. – September 30, 2024