LANGKAWI – The 2022 Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) ended today, with Ivan Sosa of Movistar claiming the coveted yellow jersey for the overall general classification in the eight-day race.
Sosa completed the tour with a combined time of 25hr 54min, which was 23sec ahead of EF Education-EasyPost’s Hugh Carthy in second place.
The 24-year-old Sosa had led the race since winning Stage 3’s Putrajaya-Genting Highlands route.
With today’s win, he became the first Colombian to win the race since Julian Arredondo in 2013.
“The race today was very fast, but it felt very good to finish the season with a win in Langkawi because it gives me confidence which I can carry into next season.
“I am happy to keep the tradition of Colombian winners at LTdL alive,” he said.
Meanwhile, Alex Molenaar of Burgos-BH came out on top in Stage 8, featuring the same 115.9km-distance as Stage 7’s Langkawi island loop yesterday, but with an extra lap.
Molenaar said he had no expectation of winning the stage but was glad he could take the lead amongst the strongest riders.
“The race was really difficult because the other riders were riding strong. I’m glad I made it in the end.
“I hope the win will help increase my chances of securing a new contract.
Erlend Blikra of Uno-X Pro Cycling, who was the Stage 6 winner, claimed the sprinters’ classification (green jersey), amassing 49 points.
Two of Terengganu Polygon Cycling Team’s riders, Muhammad Nur Aiman Mohd Zariff and Jambaljamts Sainbayar made the team proud as they claimed two of the four distinctive coloured jerseys.
Aiman and Sainbayar were both tied with the same 29 points in the climbers’ classification but the former was the first to reach more Category 2 climbs, giving him the advantage in earning the red jersey (climbers’ classification).
Sainbayar was triumphant in the Asian classification (white jersey) as he had a one-second advantage over Astana-Qazaqstan’s Andrey Sergeyevich Zeits. – The Vibes, October 18, 2022