KUALA LUMPUR: Team Sapura Cycling (TSC) remain optimistic of winning the yellow jersey when the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) starts in Kuala Pilah, Negeri Sembilan on Oct 11.
TSC team manager Sayuti Zahit said they were pinning their hopes on 32-year-old former overall winner Danilo Celano who would be backed by five young riders in a bid to retain the title he won in 2020.
Five young local pros to back Celano for the overall title include Mohd Nur Aiman Rosli, Muhsin Al Redha Misbah, Akmal Hakim Zakaria, Mohd Zawawi Azman and Mohd Shaiful Adlan Shukri.
“Despite going through hard times due to non-participation in international races over the last two years, TSC weathered through with riders currently being put on a regular training regime including pedaling up to 25 hours every week,” said Sayuti in a statement.
“Our coaches have been working hard to ensure that the riders are physically and mentally ready to face the rigorous challenges in this year’s LTdL, especially with the presence of six World Tour teams and four Pro Conti teams taking part.
Good teamwork led to Celano’s success in the 2020 race with experienced riders like Serghei Tvetcov, Pierpaolo Ficara, Cristian Raileanu and Ahmet Orken and local hero Aiman providing solid support to the Italian.
As part of their final preparations, Sayuti said the riders would be put on a pre-race ride on the actual race route which includes stage one, two, three, seven and eight starting from Sept 20 onwards before flying off to compete in Tour de Taiwan from Oct 2-6.
The Stage 1 of the 1,096.9km LTdL is from Kuala Pilah to Kuala Lumpur, followed by Stage 2 (Kuala Klawang-Raub), Stage 3 (Putrajaya-Genting Highlands), Stage 4 (Sabak Bernam-Meru Raya), Stage 5 (Kuala Kangsar-Kulim), Stage 6 (Georgetown-Alor Setar), Stage 7 (Kuah-Gunung Raya) and ends with a Stage 8 Langkawi Loop.
The 26th edition presents the most challenging race with the inclusion of six World Tour teams – UAE Team Emirates (UAE), Cofidis (France), Lotto Soudal (Belgium), EF Education EasyPost (United States of America), Movistar (Spain) and Astana-Qazaqstan (Kazakhstan). — Bernama
