KUALA LUMPUR, September 1 – As the highly anticipated Le Tour de Langkawi 2023, scheduled for September 23-30, draws nearer, several teams are making last-minute changes to their riders’ lists. This phenomenon is nothing new for the event organizers, who remain unperturbed.
Emir Abdul Jalal, Chief Operating Officer of LTdL 2023, explained that such roster fluctuations are customary in the world of professional cycling. Teams are allowed to finalize their rider rosters either during the team managers’ meeting, typically held the day before the race commences, or up to 72 hours before their flight tickets are booked.
Despite initially submitting their lists of riders, reserve riders, managers, mechanics, and medical officers, Emir revealed that several teams had already made several modifications, particularly concerning the selection of the six riders who will represent their team in the race.
This trend of constant adjustments is expected to persist over the next two to three weeks, sparking debates about which team and riders will dominate the four-jersey competition at the 27th edition of LTdL 2023.
Emir shed light on this practice, stating, “This is common practice, especially among the big teams in the WorldTeam and ProTeam categories. They assess the strengths of their riders, study the race profile, and compare them with competitors. Additionally, they must align with their team’s objectives, whether targeting individual or team jerseys, excelling in sprints or conquering climbs, and even selecting a competent Under-23 rider for the young rider competition.”
Teams are allowed to finalize their rider rosters either during the team managers’ meeting, typically held the day before the race commences, or up to 72 hours before their flight tickets are booked.
“All these factors play a pivotal role in every top team’s decision-making process when finalizing their roster,” Emir emphasized. “This is the current situation faced by LTdL 2023, but we consider it normal, as we have encountered it several times before. It’s worth noting that last-minute changes like these are also encountered by other major race organizers worldwide,” he affirmed in a recent media statement.
Emir went on to reveal that teams like Astana Qazaqstan, EF Education-EasyPost, Team Corratec-Selle Italia, Tudor Pro Cycling Team, and Euskaltel-Euskadi have already made adjustments to their preferred rider lists, giving insight into their specific goals for this year’s LTdL.
“For instance,” Emir noted, “Astana has added two expert sprinters, while EF Education and Euskaltel are focusing on climbers.”
The list of 22 participating teams has been finalized, with Bolton Equities Black Spoke Team (ProTeam) from New Zealand and Thailand Continental Cycling Team (Continental) recently confirming their participation. Consequently, the organizers, the National Sports Council (MSN), are in the final stages of preparation to welcome the teams to Kuala Terengganu. The team introduction ceremony is scheduled to take place a day before Stage 1, from Kerteh to Kuala Terengganu.
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Three ProTeam teams, including Green Project-Bardiani CSF-Faizane, Team Corratec, Bolton Equities, and KSPO Professional from South Korea, have decided to arrive five days ahead of schedule. They are willing to cover their own expenses to adapt to the local weather conditions.
Adding to the intrigue, some ProTeam outfits are using one-day races in Europe and the United States as warm-up events. Meanwhile, Continental teams are currently participating in races in Turkey and Iran, with the Tour of Taihu Lake in China scheduled for September 14-17 to further prepare their riders.
The eight-day LTdL 2023 race, covering 11 of the 12 states in the Peninsula and spanning a total distance of 1,277.1 kilometers, is organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports through MSN in collaboration with the National Cycling Federation of Malaysia (PKBM). It holds the status of a ProSeries event, promising a thrilling spectacle for cycling enthusiasts worldwide.
