KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – The XDS Astana Team, a WorldTeam from Kazakhstan, has submitted an early rider list that signals its intent to dominate the flat stages of the PETRONAS Le Tour de Langkawi 2025 (PLTdL25). The 29th edition of the race will run from September 28 to October 5 and features a high-calibre international field.
In its preliminary list of six riders, Astana has named two of its top sprinters: Matteo Malucelli and Gleb Syritsa. Malucelli is the reigning winner of the King of Sprint red jersey and secured three stage victories at PLTdL24, while Syritsa is a sprint specialist with a strong record of four stage victories in previous editions of the tour.
The team’s strategy to field two top-class sprinters directly reflects its plan to capitalize on the six stages of this year’s PLTdL25 route that are considered flat and advantageous for sprinters.
Astana’s Strategy and Competition
PLTdL25 Chief Operating Officer (COO), Emir Abdul Jalal, acknowledged that Astana’s lineup is a clear move to gain an advantage in the sprint finishes. “Based on this year’s route, we expect six stages to end in a bunch sprint to the finish line, and teams with several sprint specialists will definitely want to rack up stage wins,” said Emir. “With Malucelli and Syritsa’s presence, Astana seems to have the advantage.”
Emir also noted that this strategy could be a direct response to the presence of other top sprinters in the race, such as Alberto Dainese from Tudor Cycling and Fabio Jakobsen from Team Picnic PostNL, both of whom have impressive track records with victories in the Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a España respectively.
The other four riders on Astana’s preliminary list are Aaron Gate (New Zealand), Anton Kuzmin (Kazakhstan), Nicolas Vinokurov (Kazakhstan), and Lev Gonov (Kazakhstan).
- Aaron Gate, a 35-year-old from New Zealand, is a four-time gold medalist at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and is expected to be a strong contender for the overall individual green jersey.
- Anton Kuzmin and Lev Gonov, both of whom are also Syritsa’s track pursuit teammates, are anticipated to play key roles in leading Astana’s strategy at the front of the peloton during the final kilometers, creating an ideal lead-out for Malucelli or Syritsa in the final sprint.
- Nicolas Vinokurov, 23, the son of cycling legend Alexander Vinokourov, is likely to serve as a helper for the team’s daily strategies and may be tasked with following any breakaway attempts.
“Based on this preliminary list, that is what we can predict, but Astana’s strategy might change later depending on the situation and the team’s priorities,” Emir added. “However, with their status as a WorldTeam, we can say that Astana’s line-up at PLTdL this year can be considered as a strong and prominent team.“
The PLTdL25, which holds ProSeries status on the UCI Asia Tour calendar, is organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) through the National Sports Council (NSC) in collaboration with the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF). The race, which will traverse all 12 states in Peninsular Malaysia over a total distance of 1,257.8 kilometers, has attracted three WorldTeams, eight ProTeams, 10 Continental teams, and the Malaysian national team.
The eight stages of the race will cover a diverse terrain, starting in Langkawi Island and concluding in front of the Petronas Twin Towers (KLCC) in Kuala Lumpur.
