KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane, a team with a storied history at the PETRONAS Le Tour de Langkawi, is returning with a versatile squad for the 2025 edition of the race. The team’s strategy will center on all-rounder Manuele Tarozzi, who will be their primary hope for a stage victory and a strong contender for the overall individual Green Jersey.
The 27-year-old Italian rider is no stranger to success on Malaysian roads, having secured a surprising stage victory in the 2024 PLTdL. This year, his diverse skillset—combining the power of a sprinter with the endurance of a climber—makes him a formidable threat on the course.
The route for the 2025 tour, which includes the demanding Stage 5 climb to Fraser’s Hill, is considered ideal for Tarozzi’s climbing abilities. This makes him a strong candidate to challenge for the prestigious Green Jersey, sponsored by PETRONAS. His recent form is impressive, having won the King of the Mountains title at Tirreno Adriatico and finishing a notable fourth in the Giro’s King of the Mountains classification.
A Squad Built for All Terrains
Supporting Tarozzi in his bid for the general classification will be two experienced climbers, Luca Covili and Alex Tolio. Both riders have a solid history of racing in Asia. Covili, 28, previously raced in the PLTdL in 2023, while Tolio, 25, recently secured an impressive sixth-place finish in the overall individual classification at the 2025 Tour of Qinghai Lake.
For the six flat stages of the race, Bardiani will rely on a powerful trio of sprinters: Mattia Pinazzi, Enrico Zanoncello, and Lorenzo Conforti. Pinazzi, who came close with three fourth-place finishes last year, will be eager to secure a podium spot this time around. Zanoncello, a former Cofidis rider, also brings recent Giro d’Italia experience to the team, adding depth to their sprint lineup.
Aiming to Echo a Legendary Performance
PETRONAS Le Tour de Langkawi 2025 (PLTdL25) Chief Operating Officer (COO), Emir Abdul Jalal, noted that Bardiani’s presence aims to restore the team’s dominance in Asia’s top tour. He drew parallels to the team’s incredible performance nearly 20 years ago when they won seven out of 10 stages at the 2005 LTdL
“Local cycling fans will also recall the team’s ‘orange train’ that moved so quickly, which was almost impossible for any other team to take the lead in the main group near the finish line,” Emir said, referring to the legendary squad led by Graeme Brown and Guillermo Bongiorno. “With three riders capable of sprinting, it’s not impossible for Bardiani to repeat that same performance and rack up several stage victories in this year’s race.“
The team, managed by Mirko Rossato, is one of the most frequent participants in the PLTdL, reflecting its long-standing connection to the event. With a balanced team of climbers and sprinters, Bardiani is a well-rounded threat on all fronts. The 29th edition of the PETRONAS Le Tour de Langkawi 2025 (PLTdL25) is an eight-stage, 1,243.5km race with a 2.ProSeries status on the UCI Asia Tour calendar. The tour will start in Langkawi Island on September 28 and traverse all 12 states in Peninsular Malaysia, concluding at KLCC on October 5. The race is organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) through the National Sports Council (MSN) in collaboration with the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF).
