KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia national team set ther sight to improve in the Asian team rankings and specific stage wins at this the 29th edition PETRONAS Le Tour de Langkawi (PLTdL), which begins on Sept 28 until Oct 5.
National coach Yusof Abdul Nasir said the team are being realistic with their goals.
He said past stage victories by Malaysian riders Anuar Manan and Harrif Salleh prove that similar success is possible, and the focus this year is on young rider Kee Zhe Yie, who is expected to perform well on the Fraser’s Hill climb.
“We must be realistic. Asian level is a target within reach. Before this, Anuar and Harrif both won stages, so it’s not impossible for Zhe Yie to deliver something special at Fraser’s Hill,” he told reporters at the team’s riders announcement at National Sports Council in Bukit Jalil today.
“We will give our best to achieve our target. All the teams in PLTdL are experience team, and the riders’ instincts in climbing and sprint finishes are crucial.”
He pointed out that besides Stage Five from Temerloh to Fraser’s Hill (123.1km), Stage Three from Gerik to Pasir Puteh (198.2km) and the final stage from Tangkak to Kuala Lumpur (180.2km) will be key.
“We are not the biggest team, so our focus will be on specific stages. The Gerik and Fraser’s Hill stages are crucial to secure the Asian team position, while the final stage is also very tough. In all three, we must ensure our riders are up front,” he said.
The six-man national squad consists of Elmi Jumari, Ameer Ahmad Kamal, Zhe Yie, Iqmal Zarawi, Yusri Shaari and Shahrul Mat Amin.
Meanwhile, PLTdL25 will be the perfect venue for Malaysian cyclists to recapture glory the nation once held at an international race.
With a group of 16 top-tier riders representing four different teams, stage victories, podium finishes, and titles for best Asian rider or best Asian team are not seen as impossible or out of reach.
This optimism stems from the rider’s own fitness levels, which are at their peak thanks to the meticulous preparation by their respective team coaches. A strong performance here could also influence their selection for the upcoming SEA Games in Thailand later this year.
PLTdL25 Chief Operating Officer (COO) noted that the lineup – six riders each in the Malaysian national squad and Malaysia Pro Cycling (MPC), three from Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) and one representing the St George Continental Cycling Team and this shows a higher level of determination compared to previous years.
”The Malaysian national team, led by experienced captain Shahrul Mat Amin, seems more focused on achieving their targets,” he said.
“This could be through Elmi Jumari, who is aiming for a podium finish and redemption after his attempt was cut short in Butterworth last year, or through Kee Zhe Yie, who spent several months in Spain gaining international experience with the Caja Rural Development Team.”
He added that TSG is also riding on the momentum of their recent successes in Turkey and China.
“With a combination of two sprint specialists, Wan Abdul Rahman Hamdan and his senior teammate Mohd Harrif Saleh – a three-time stage winner in PLTdL, they are certainly looking to make an impact on the finish line of Stage 4 (Kuala Terengganu-Kemaman).”
Meanwhile, the MPC Continental team has been in good form, “warming up” for the past few weeks at the Tour de Entete in Indonesia. They are no doubt hoping to propel Muhammad Izzat Hilmi Abdul Halil to a podium finish after he narrowly missed out on several occasions in 2023 and 2024.
Also drawing attention is Tsen Ren Bao, the son of legendary cyclist Tsen Seong Hoong, who is racing for St George. The young rider will be keen to prove that the offer from the Australian team was the right choice and that he’s more than just a team filler.
In past PLTdL, the Malaysian national squad was named Best Asian Team in 1999. In 2010, Anuar Manan made history by becoming the first Malaysian to win a stage (Stage 5), also securing the Sprinter’s King jersey.
Adiq Husainie Othman was crowned Best Asian Rider in 2016, before Harrif won three stages in 2019 and 2020. This was followed by Muhammad Nur Aiman Zariff who took the King of the Mountain jersey twice, in 2020 and 2022.
This year’s eight-stage race features 23 sprint zones, seven flat finishes, and nine climbing zones, including a summit finish at Bukit Fraser.
”Without the difficult climb to Genting Highlands, coupled with the advantage of local fan support, familiarity with the weather, and the terrain of all eight stages, local riders appear to have a slight edge,” Emir said.
“They should be smart about their strategy and use this opportunity to secure a spot on the podium.”
The PLTdL25 will kick off on Sunday in Langkawi and conclude on October 5th in front of the Petronas Twin Towers (KLCC), traversing all 12 states in Peninsular Malaysia over a total distance of 1,224.2 km.
The race, which holds a 2.ProSeries status on the UCI Asia Tour calendar, is organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) through the National Sports Council (MSN) in collaboration with the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF).
The race will begin in Langkawi Island on September 28 with the first stage covering a distance of 96.7 kilometers (km) followed by Stage 2 from Padang Besar, Perlis to Kepala Batas, Penang (166.1km); Stage 3 from Gerik, Perak to Pasir Puteh, Kelantan (198.2km); Stage 4 from Kuala Terengganu to Kemaman (141.5km); Stage 5 from Temerloh to Fraser’s Hill, Pahang (123.1km); Stage 6 from Shah Alam, Selangor to Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan (123.5km); Stage 7 from Melaka to Medini, Johor (214.9km) and Stage 8 from Tangkak, Johor to Kuala Lumpur (180.2km) on October 5.
MALAYSIA NATIONAL TEAM RIDERS
- Kee Zhe Yie
- Muhammad Ameer Ahmad Kamal
- Muhammad Ikmal Mohd Zarawi
- Muhammad Elmi Jumari
- Muhammad Yusri Shaari
- Shahrul Mat Amin
