[VIDEO] The ups-and-downs of L’Étape Malaysia 2022

KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia will soon join the ranks of 21 nations when it plays host to the L’Étape by Tour de France for the first time on June 4.

Not only will the inaugural event be the latest addition to 26 global races, L’Étape Malaysia is set to be the second largest in the series with more than 4,700 registered participants.

This amateur race, which is supported by Johor, has been boosted by financial aid to draw a massive influx of participants and visitors to the state’s tourist attraction, Desaru Coast.

As one of the oldest and best-organised races in the world, the allure and excitement of Tour de France has helped L’Étape garner credibility outside of its home nation.

The cycling sport has enjoyed enormous popularity over the past few years. In Malaysia, increasingly cycling enthusiasts have emerged to the extent that even the country’s Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd has made special allowances for bicycles to be transported on its trains.

L’Étape Malaysia offers participants a choice of two routes − 140km and 60km.

The 140km route is a challenging course. Despite the organisers receiving a special dispensation as there are no hills for “attacks”, there are dragon backs galore, which could prove to be even more difficult for riders.

The race will start out at the Riverside with 500 riders being released in intervals. From the start, riders will go up a quick and short hill and in about 500m join the main trunk road to Kota Tinggi.

This route, which is beautifully tarmacked on trunk roads, is littered with about 50 to 60 dragon backs – a term used to describe a series of small hills on a mostly straight road. Riders are expected to be fast, and the water station placed along the route will be an absolute godsend for many.

The initial part of the 140km route is flanked by plantations, which makes it quite hot and humid, and fast straight roads. Fitter riders will attempt to stretch their legs to gain a lead, which may afford them a false sense of confidence, given that this is the scenic part of the ride.

Once cyclists pass the coast at Teluk Ramunia and turn off into the main Kota Tinggi road, the real slog begins. From here it will be around 90km before one sees the coast again, which would be a welcome sight indeed.

This part of the ride tends to look long and endless. Cyclists can see ahead up to about 4km, and the dragon backs may put some off. The highest peaks are about 250m, which is not that high but given that there are a large number of these “hills”, it would require riders to be properly prepared. 

Cyclists will have some respite when they get into the peaceful enclave of Felda’s Kg Waha, a little village that will help break the monotony of endless plantations.

From Kg Waha, riders will come upon wide winding roads across open spaces that lead up to a narrow lane that takes one right through Kampung Sedili Kecil, a small remote village devoid of mobile connectivity.

Past that, cyclists will be able to see and hear the lashes of the South China Sea and the ocean breeze will give riders the required boost to begin the last 40km back from Tg Buloh to Desaru Coast.

From here, riders will have the coast on their left shoulder and flat open roads to the finish line.

The starting/finishing point of the 60km route is the same as the 140km except it makes a turn off into Bandar Penawar and heads back via a nice well-maintained dual carriageway.

Compared to the 140km, riders will see more people on this route as it passes by more villages. Although the reduced number of dragon backs makes this route far more “friendlier” for novices, it is by no means less fun.

Overall, a few training rides are recommended to prepare for both routes.

As registration has been closed since April 11 due to overwhelming entries, this means riders can expect the small town of Desaru to have a deluge of cyclists and enthusiasts over the race weekend.

Despite hotel rooms being quickly snapped up by both holiday makers and cycling fans, the availability of homestays will provide locals with an economic boost following post-Covid lockdowns.

Participants from as far as Indonesia, Hong Kong, Brunei, and Thailand have joined those from across the causeway to give Malaysian cyclists a run for the coveted yellow, green, and white jerseys synonymous with the Tour de France.

The Vibes is the official media partner for L’Etape Malaysia, and is participating in two teams sponsored by the Vinod Sekhar Foundation.

The Vibes is a PETRA News company which also publishes the Bahasa Malaysia portal Getaran. – The Vibes, May 25, 2022