FRASER’S HILL: Ren Bao Tsen is determined to build on his performances after finishing the queen stage of Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) as the highest placed Malaysian today (Oct 2).
The St George Continental rider crossed the line 44th, three minutes and 55 seconds adrift of stage winner Joris Delbove (Team TotalEnergies).
Ren Bao, 22, said he was a bit disappointed that could not keep up once the front runners pushed the pace.
The fifth stage started in Temerloh and ended with a summit finish in Fraser’s Hill, covering 123.1 kilometres.
“I was (initially) feeling comfortable on the wheels of the top 30 riders but there were a lot of surges, especially through the corners,” said Ren Bao at the finish line.
“Unfortunately, somewhere about 15km from the finish, someone opened up a big gap and I just could not close it.
“I knew I just had to follow my own pace and ride until the finish. It would be useless if I made the jump but then blew up in the next few kilometres.
“It is a bit disappointing to lose touch with the front group but I will keep trying my best in the upcoming stages.”
National team rider Kee Zhe Yie was the next highest placed Malaysia in the stage, crossing the line 48th (+4:35s).
Malaysia Pro Cycling (MPC) trio Zawawi Azman (+5:44s), Syawal Mazlin and Zulfikri Zulkifli (both +5:53s) placed out of the top 50.
Stage six tomorrow, which starts in Shah Alam and ends in Port Dickson (123.5km), will feature intermediate sprints at Jenjarom, Banting and Sungai Pelek.
The flat profile will likely see it ending in a bunch sprint.
– NST
