KUALA LUMPUR – Five Continental teams have no intention of merely making up the numbers among the 20 teams competing at the 30th edition of Le Tour de Langkawi 2026 (LTdL26), running from September 27 to October 4.
Instead, Nusantara Cycling Team (Indonesia), Thailand Continental Cycling Team (Thailand), 7-Eleven Cliqq Roadbike Philippines (Philippines), Aisan Racing Team (Japan) and KSPO (South Korea) are well aware that they carry the pride of their respective nations when riding in a peloton filled with riders from WorldTeam and ProTeam squads.
In fact, records also show that LTdL has previously witnessed Continental teams and riders achieve the highest honours, winning both the individual leader’s jersey (GC) and the Overall Best Team title.
It began at LTdL 2007, when Continental team Giant Asia Racing Team emerged as the best in the team classification, even while being challenged by formidable European teams such as Credit Agricole, Unibet.com, Tinkoff Credit System, Francais des Jeux and Bouygues Telecom, at what was then the 12th edition.
Seven years later, Iranian rider Mirsamad Pourseyedi, representing Tabriz Petrochemical Cycling Team, topped the GC standings at LTdL 2014.
Following Mirsamad’s footsteps was Russian TSG rider Artem Ovechkim, who won the leader’s jersey in 2018, followed by two consecutive years for Sapura Racing Team (now known as MPC Cycling), whose riders Benjamin Dybal and Danilo Celano stood on the main podium in 2019 and 2020.
At this 30th edition, Nusantara which made its first appearance in 2024 but failed to make an impact after three of its riders were eliminated due to exceeding the time limit (OTL) at Stage 4, improved their showing at LTdL25 by finishing 14th overall in the team standings and emerging as the Best Asian Team.
This time, Nusantara, led by manager Rastra Patria Dinawan, retains the same lineup, namely their best rider from LTdL25, Maulana Astnan Al Hayat, who finished 37th; Muh Iman Arifin (92nd); Muhamad Ridwan (82nd); Muhamad Herlangga (46th); Ade Meisa (78th); and Ilhan Dzikri Ramadan.
Their riding experience from 2024 and 2025 is the Indonesian representatives’ biggest asset, even though the route for this year’s LTdL26 is more challenging compared to last year, which featured only one climb to Bukit Fraser.
Similarly, Thailand Continental Cycling Team, which finished 16th overall in the team standings last year, retains three riders – Tanakarn Chaiyasombat (21st), Aphisit Suphan (38th) and Noppachai Klahan (75th) while introducing three new faces are Peerapol Chawakiangkwang, Thanachat Yutan and Tulatorn Sasalam.
Japan’s representative, Aisan who was disappointed after three of its riders failed to finish (DNF) at Stage 8, the final stage from Tangkak to Kuala Lumpur last year, has listed only their best rider from last year, Kazuto Minami (36th), while bringing in fresh talent in Yuhi Todome, Hijiri Oda, Hayato Tobaru (LTdL24 veteran), Rui Udagawa and Keiko Kamiya to take on this year’s challenge.
A similar fate befell KSPO last year, who initially listed only five riders but lost three towards the end of the race. With only Kim Jinwoong (72nd) and Shin Byeonghoon (98th) remaining, the South Korean representatives will not feature in the team classification, which requires the recorded times of three riders.
Besides Jinwoong and Byeonghoon, team manager Lee Byeongil has also listed Kim Gukhyun, Park Jihwan, Kim Taehyoong, and Park Taejun, who was eliminated at Stage 5 last year.
A different scenario is presented by 7-Eleven Cliqq manager Ric Rodriguez, who this time retains a ratio of three Philippine-born riders – none of whom featured in last year’s list namely Ronnilan Quita, Mervin Corpes and Jaypee Orlante, while the three imported riders this time are Antoine Arnaud Robert Huby (France), James Steven Krzanich (New Zealand) and Matthew Joel Sherwin (Australia).
The loss of their imported rider Luke Burns as early as Stage 2 disrupted the team’s strategy last year, forcing them to settle for 13th overall in the team standings, with Joshua Pascual (35th) as their best-placed rider.
LTdL26 Chief Operating Officer (COO) Emir Abdul Jalal said that despite holding Continental status, it is not impossible for these riders and teams to stand on the podium.
“The history of LTdL has repeatedly shown that Asian riders and teams are just as formidable, as demonstrated by the likes of Wong Kam Po, Koji Fukushima, Samai, Anuar Manan, Taiji Nishitani, Mirsamad, Wang Meiyin, Seo Joon Yong and Hariff Saleh himself, who won stages while representing Continental-status teams.
“What Continental team riders need is not to feel inferior, and to have confidence in their own ability to overcome the top WorldTeam and ProTeam riders from Europe.
“With three tough climbing stages at Gunung Jerai, Cameron Highlands and Genting Highlands at this year’s LTdL, they should act more shrewdly and set the right strategy to keep challenging right through to the end,” Emir added.
LTdL26, a 2.ProSeries-ranked race, will begin with Stage 1 from Shah Alam to Kampar on September 27 and conclude with Stage 8 from Muar to Putrajaya on October 4, covering a total distance of 1,285.5km.
The 30th edition of LTdL26 is organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) through the National Sports Council (MSN) and receives full support from the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (PKBM).
