KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – In a significant shift from its winning strategy last year, WorldTeam Team Picnic PostNL will be fielding a new-look lineup for the PETRONAS Le Tour de Langkawi 2025 (PLTdL25), with the notable absence of its 2024 overall individual champion, Max Poole. The team will instead be led by one of the world’s most prolific sprinters, Fabio Jakobsen, signaling a clear intent to dominate the flat stages of the prestigious eight-day race, which runs from September 28 to October 5.
With only one rider, Bjorn Koerdl, retained from last year’s winning squad, Picnic PostNL is banking on Jakobsen’s extensive experience as a sprint specialist to elevate the team’s profile and secure stage victories. The 29-year-old Dutch-born rider brings a formidable track record to the PLTdL, a reputation that is expected to make the competition in the final dash to the finish line more open, intense, and unpredictable.
PETRONAS Le Tour de Langkawi 2025 (PLTdL25) Chief Operating Officer (COO), Emir Abdul Jalal, noted that while Poole’s absence might be a loss for the general classification battle, Jakobsen’s presence more than makes up for it. “Jakobsen is a ‘big name’ as he has won one stage at the Tour de France and five stages at the Vuelta a España, including winning the Vuelta’s points jersey in 2021,” said Emir. “With a collection of 46 career victories so far, including at the TdF and Vuelta, Picnic PostNL appears with the goal of winning a stage in the team’s second appearance this year.“
A Sprint-Focused and Balanced Roster
Jakobsen’s challenge on the flat stages will be strongly supported by his teammates. The team’s lineup, which includes Bram Welten and Dillion Corkery, is designed to provide the crucial final push in the sprint finishes. Welten, 28, is a highly experienced rider with a background in major WorldTeams and three Grand Tour appearances. His role will be to set up the pace in the final kilometers, creating an ideal lead-out for Jakobsen. “Welten himself is capable of securing a stage win,” Emir added, highlighting the depth of the team’s sprint capabilities.
While the focus is on sprint victories, the team also appears to have a contender for the overall individual green jersey in 21-year-old Juan Guillermo Martinez. Signed from the ProTeam Q36.5, the Colombian rider brings strong climbing credentials to the team. Martinez won the King of the Mountains at the Giro della Valle d’Aosta last year and has an impressive third-place overall finish at the Tour of Turkey this year, alongside an eighth-place finish at the Tour of Rwanda. His presence ensures that Picnic PostNL is not a one-dimensional team and can compete on the two key climbing stages.
The roster is completed by Bjorn Koerdl, 21, the only returning rider from last year’s squad, who finished 50th overall as a support rider, and Jurgen Zommermaand, 19, who is expected to take on domestique duties to support Jakobsen, Koerdl, and Martinez.
The Challenge of the PLTdL25 Route
Emir expressed his anticipation for the team’s performance, given the challenging and varied route. “It will certainly be interesting to see how Picnic PostNL is able to compete in this PETRONAS Le Tour de Langkawi 2025 (PLTdL25) as they will be strongly challenged throughout the eight-day race,” he said.
The ProSeries status race on the UCI Asia Tour calendar is organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) through the National Sports Council (MSN) with the support of the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF). The race will cover a total distance of 1,243.5km and will traverse every state in Peninsular Malaysia. The journey begins in Langkawi Island and will conclude in front of the iconic Petronas Twin Towers (KLCC) in Kuala Lumpur.
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The inclusion of a sprinter of Jakobsen’s caliber adds another exciting dimension to the PLTdL, making it a must-watch event for cycling fans in Malaysia and across the region. The competition promises to be fierce, with teams like Picnic PostNL, Astana, and Tudor all bringing formidable sprint lineups.
