KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – In a significant strategic shift for the Asian cycling scene, two Continental teams, China’s Chengdu DYC Cycling Team and the Philippines’ 7-Eleven Cliqq Roadbike, have revealed a new approach for the upcoming 29th edition of the PETRONAS Le Tour de Langkawi 2025 (LTdL25). Aiming to close the competitive gap with the elite European WorldTeams and ProTeams, both squads have bolstered their rosters with international talent, a move that LTdL25 organizers believe will create a more dynamic and unpredictable race.
Chengdu DYC, making its first appearance at LTdL, has fielded a squad with only one local rider, Li Chaoyi, alongside five foreign cyclists from Russia, Belarus, and Venezuela. Similarly, 7-Eleven Cliqq Roadbike, a familiar face in the race, has transformed its previously all-Filipino team by adding two Australian riders and one French cyclist to lead their charge for stage wins and the general classification.
Emir Abdul Jalal, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the LTdL25, noted that this strategic change is a direct response to the competitive landscape of the tour. He cited the example of Japan’s JCL Team UKYO from last year’s race. “JCL Team UKYO, which achieved a commendable result last year, did so with the help of three Italian riders,” Emir explained. “They also helped Manabu Ishibashi become the Best Asian Rider and the Best Asian Team, in addition to finishing fourth overall in the team classification at LTdL24.” This precedent suggests that the inclusion of non-Asian riders with experience in the rigorous European racing circuit can provide a crucial competitive edge.
Chengdu DYC: A New-Look Squad with Proven Winners
Chengdu DYC’s lineup is packed with riders with notable international experience. The team’s roster includes three Russian riders, Petr Rikunov, Timofei Ivanov, and Andrei Stepanov, along with Belarusian Yauhan Sobal and Venezuelan Roniel Campos.
Among the most exciting prospects is the 28-year-old sprinter Rikunov, a former Gazprom Rusvelo rider who has had an excellent year, including a stage win at the Tour of Qinghai Lake. He also secured second-place finishes in stages at both the Trans-Himalaya and Tour of Hainan. The team’s challenge for the overall Green Jersey is expected to be led by the 32-year-old Venezuelan Campos, a former Li Ning Star rider who has an impressive record, having won the overall individual title at the prestigious Vuelta a Tachira from 2020 to 2022. He will be supported by the experienced Ivanov, a climbing specialist, and the 44-year-old Sobal, a five-time Belarusian national champion.
7-Eleven Cliqq Roadbike: Fresh Talent for a Renewed Challenge
The 7-Eleven Cliqq squad, while still featuring three Filipino-born riders—Rench Michael Bondoc, Joshua Pascual, and John Patrick Pagtalunan—is set to be led by its new foreign additions: Australians Luke Burns and Zachary Marriage, and French rider Edouard Bonnefoix.
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The 21-year-old Marriage, who has a history with Israel Premier Tech and Bridgelane, has been a consistent performer this year, with a second-place finish at the GP de Cotonou and a second-place finish in the Young Rider classification at Volta a Portugal. He is expected to be a key player for stage wins. He will be supported by the 26-year-old sprinter Bonnefoix, who finished sixth in a stage at the Tour of Britain this year. The team’s challenge for the overall individual classification will likely be led by Burns, a former Bridgelane rider who won the King of the Mountains title at the Tour Down Under 2024 and finished fifth overall at the Tour Along Yellow River this year.
“Whether this approach of including non-Asian riders will give Chengdu DYC and 7-Eleven Cliqq the results they are hoping for, we will all get to see when the race begins,” said Emir, creating anticipation for the race. The LTdL25, a 2.ProSeries event on the UCI Asia Tour calendar, will pass through all 12 states in Peninsular Malaysia, starting in Langkawi on September 28 and concluding in front of KLCC on October 5, covering a total distance of 1,243.5km.
