KUALA LUMPUR – Team Sapura Cycling (TSC) remains optimistic of winning the yellow jersey when the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2022 starts in Kuala Pilah, Negri Sembilan on October 11.
TSC team manager Sayuti Zahit said that they are pinning their hopes on 32-year-old former overall winner Danilo Celano who will be backed by five young riders in a bid to retain the title he won in 2020.
Five young local pros to back Celano for the overall title include Muhammad Nur Aiman Rosli, Muhsin Al Redha Misbah, Akmal Hakim Zakaria, Muhammad Zawawi Azman and Muhammad Shaiful Adlan Shukri.
“Despite going through hard times due to non-participation in international races over the last two years, TSC weathered through with riders currently being put on a regular training regime including pedalling up to 25 hours every week.
"Our coaches have been working hard to ensure that the riders are physically and mentally ready to face the rigorous challenges in this year’s LTdL, especially with the presence of six WorldTour teams and four Pro Conti teams taking part,” it said in a statement.
Good teamwork led to Celano’s success in the 2020 race with experienced riders like Serghei Tvetcov, Pierpaolo Ficara, Cristian Raileanu and Ahmet Orken and local hero Muhammad Nur Aiman Zariff providing solid support to the Italian.
As part of its final preparations, Sayuti said the riders will be put on a pre-race ride on the actual race route which includes stage one, two, three, seven and eight starting on September 20 before flying off to compete in Tour de Taiwan from October 2 to 6.
The 1,096.9km LTdL 2022 starts Stage 1 from Kuala Pilah to Kuala Lumpur, followed by Stage 2 (Kuala Klawang-Raub), Stage 3 (Putrajaya-Genting Highlands), Stage 4 (Sabak Bernam-Meru Raya), Stage 5 (Kuala Kangsar-Kulim), Stage 6 (Georgetown-Alor Setar), Stage 7 (Kuah-Gunung Raya) and ends with a Stage 8 Langkawi Loop.
The 26th edition presents the most challenging race with the inclusion of six WorldTour teams – UAE Team Emirates (UAE), Cofidis (France), Lotto Soudal (Belgium), EF Education EasyPost (US), Movistar (Spain) and Astana-Qazaqstan (Kazakhstan). – Bernama, September 20, 2022
