ALOR STAR – The Terengganu Polygon Cycling Team (TSG) is down to only four riders to finish the remaining three stages of the 2022 Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) after its star cyclist Harrif Saleh was disqualified at Stage 5.
It is understood that the 34-year-old violated competition rules when he clung onto another team’s vehicle during the race from Kuala Kangsar to Kulim yesterday.
However, his ejection from the tour was only known a few hours after the stage ended, following protest from another team.
“Today’s race was difficult because we have no thoroughbred sprinter after we lost Harrif, so our mission is to ensure that all the remaining riders can finish the race safely.
“He had a hard time in the climb zone yesterday in Sumpitan, and he clung to one of the team cars, but not our team.
“It was not the fault of our crew members, but the organisers decided to disqualify Harrif, so we will try to continue the rest of the race,” TSG sports director Danny Feng said.
During the fourth stage on Friday, TSG lost its road captain Youcef Reguigui after he sustained a severe knee injury following a crash roughly 500m towards the finish line.
The team is now left with only four riders, including white jersey wearer Jambaljamts Sainbayar, who ranks as best Asian rider, and red jersey wearer Nur Aiman Zariff, who is leading as the race’s King of Mountain.
Aiman currently shares points with Sainbayar in the battle for the red jersey as the two riders are now tied at 29 points.
Tomorrow will be the penultimate stage of the 26th edition of the tour.
In the 90.8km-route, riders will flag off from Langkawi’s Kuah township and end in Gunung Raya and cycle in two climbing zones, including a steep ascent up to the Gunung Raya summit, which is 864m above sea level. – The Vibes, October 16, 2022
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