KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – With the 29th edition of the PETRONAS Le Tour de Langkawi 2025 (LTdL25) just around the corner, a group of 16 top-tier Malaysian cyclists are gearing up to recapture the glory the nation once held at this premier international race. Representing four different teams, the riders have set their sights on improving the country’s Asian team ranking and securing specific stage wins, believing that stage victories, podium finishes, and titles for the best Asian rider or best Asian team are well within their reach.
According to national coach Yusof Abdul Nasir, the team is taking a realistic approach to their goals. “We must be realistic. Asian level is a target within reach,” he told reporters at the team’s riders’ announcement. He pointed to past stage victories by Malaysian legends Anuar Manan and Harrif Saleh as proof that similar success is possible. This year, the national team’s hopes are pinned on young rider Kee Zhe Yie, who is expected to perform well on the decisive Fraser’s Hill climb.
PETRONAS Le Tour de Langkawi 2025 (LTdL25) Chief Operating Officer (COO) Emir Abdul Jalal echoed this optimism, noting that the collective lineup—six riders each in the national squad and Malaysia Pro Cycling (MPC), three from Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG), and one representing the St George Continental Cycling Team—shows a higher level of determination compared to previous years. “Without the difficult climb to Genting Highlands, coupled with the advantage of local fan support, familiarity with the weather, and the terrain of all eight stages, local riders appear to have a slight edge,” Emir said.
The Riders to Watch and Their Strategic Targets
Each team has a specific strategy and a key rider to watch. The six-man national squad, led by experienced captain Shahrul Mat Amin, is focused on specific stages. Beyond Zhe Yie’s performance on the Fraser’s Hill climb (Stage 5), the team will also target Stage 3 from Gerik to Pasir Puteh and the final stage from Tangkak to Kuala Lumpur. Yusof stated, “In all three, we must ensure our riders are up front.“
Meanwhile, TSG is riding on the momentum of their recent successes in Turkey and China. With a combination of two sprint specialists, Wan Abdul Rahman Hamdan and his senior teammate Mohd Harrif Saleh—a three-time stage winner in LTdL—they are certainly looking to make an impact on the finish line of Stage 4 from Kuala Terengganu to Kemaman.
The MPC Continental Team has been in good form, “warming up” for the past few weeks at the Tour de Entete in Indonesia. They are hoping to propel Muhammad Izzat Hilmi Abdul Halil to a podium finish after he narrowly missed out on several occasions in 2023 and 2024. Also drawing significant attention is Tsen Ren Bao, the son of legendary cyclist Tsen Seong Hoong, who is racing for the St George Continental Cycling Team. The young rider will be keen to prove his worth on the international stage.
Drawing on a Rich History of Success
The confidence among the Malaysian contingent is built on a rich history of national success at the LTdL. In 1999, the national squad was named the Best Asian Team. Anuar Manan made history in 2010 by becoming the first Malaysian to win a stage, also securing the Sprinter’s King jersey. Later, Adiq Husainie Othman was crowned the Best Asian Rider in 2016. Most recently, Harrif Saleh won three stages in 2019 and 2020, while Muhammad Nur Aiman Zariff took the King of the Mountain jersey twice, in 2020 and 2022.
The eight-stage race features 23 sprint zones, seven flat finishes, and nine climbing zones, including a summit finish at Fraser’s Hill. As the cyclists prepare for the race, which kicks off in Langkawi on Sunday and concludes in front of the Petronas Twin Towers on October 5, all eyes will be on the homegrown talent as they look to capitalize on their home-ground advantage and secure a spot on the podium.
