Gunung Jerai raises bar as 30th edition of LTdL gets tougher

KUALA LUMPUR: The 30th edition of Le Tour de Langkawi is expected to feature the most intense competition in its history with the inclusion of a new climb to Gunung Jerai as early as Stage 2.

The Tour from Sept 27-Oct 4 has already promised to be gruelling following the return of the back-to-back Hors category climbs at Cameron Highlands (Stage 4) and Genting Highlands (Stage 5).

The new route to the summit of Gunung Jerai offers 15 points to the winner in the King of the Mountains standings, alongside bonus points.

This is expected to prompt contenders particularly pure climbers to lay down an early marker as potential candidates for the overall leader’s jersey and the King of the Mountains jersey.

The subsequent back-to-back Hors category climbs, each offer 25 points at Cameron Highlands and Genting Highlands, will also prove decisive.

LTdL26 chief operating officer (COO), Emir Abdul Jalal stated that the organisers intentionally selected Gunung Jerai to elevate the intensity of this year’s edition especially after last year’s route featured milder climbs at the Titiwangsa Range and Fraser’s Hill.

“The 145.6km Stage 2 route from Taiping to Gunung Jerai, which stands at 971m above sea level, begins shortly after riders pass the final sprint zone in Gurun,” said Emir.

“Although the remaining distance to the finish is relatively short, the steep gradient leading to the summit of Gunung Jerai is expected to test the riders’ endurance, causing the peloton to fracture into several distinct groups.”

For the record, in 2024, Cameron Highlands (1,451m above sea level) paved the way for British rider Max Poole of Team dsm-Firmenich PostNL (now Picnic-PostNL) to emerge as the overall winner.

Meanwhile, Genting Highlands (1,629m above sea level) saw EF Education rider Simon Carr conquer its summit to claim the individual general classification title in 2023.

“With three summit finishes in this year’s edition, it is difficult to predict who will ultimately emerge as the overall individual winner, as the standings are bound to shift dramatically at the end of Stages 2, 4, and 5,” Emir added.

Emir noted that teams will carefully analyse these three stages in detail including Gunung Jerai, which makes its debut in LTdL as professional teams now have full access to detailed route profiles.

“I”m certain they will field at least three climbers to ensure they can manage the mountainous terrain more effectively while strengthening their position in the overall team classification,” Emir added.