‘Mystery box’ awaits riders at LTdL

KAMPAR: Riders competing in the 30th edition of Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) face a daunting new challenge today as they tackle the formidable “mystery box” of Gunung Jerai in Stage 2.

The 145.6km route from Taiping to the 1,217m summit is a new addition to the race which will also include mountain tests at Cameron Highlands (Stage 4) and Genting Highlands (Stage 5).

National squad head coach Mohd Yusof Abdul Nasir is approaching the ascent of Kedah’s highest peak with caution, setting a primary target for his team to emerge as the best in Asia.

“Anyone has a chance to conquer the peak, but we need to look at reality,” Yusof said.

“Maybe we can chase the best position in Asia through Zawawi Azman or Tsen Ren Han.”

Captain Zawawi’s previous best at LTdL came in 2018 where he finished at the top Malaysian overall.

The Malaysian squad also features riders Chan Jian Le, Adam Hakimi Nazuan, Yusri Shaari, and Zahin Wahhi.

With the climb featuring narrow, steep roads, Yusof has urged his riders to exercise caution in their pursuit of the coveted white jersey.

“They need to be careful not to get stuck because the path is quite narrow, especially at the start of the climb,” he said, adding that adverse weather conditions could also cause tires to spin out, further increasing the difficulty.

In addition to the summit finish, Stage 2 will feature three sprint zones in Selama, Padang Serai, and Aman Jaya, alongside a Category 4 climbing zone in Selama.