KUALA LUMPUR – The director-general of Tourism Malaysia, Datuk Ammar Abd Ghapar, hopes that a Malaysian rider can win the polka dot jersey for the King of the Mountain classification at the Le Tour de Langkawi.
He expressed this sentiment at a ceremony announcing Tourism Malaysia as one of the main sponsors of the ProSeries road cycling race.
“As a Malaysian, I definitely want a local rider to win this jersey. It will, however, be awarded to those who are capable of doing so through healthy competition,” he said.
“If a Malaysian can win it, that would be good publicity for the country.”
In the past, Malaysia’s Muhamad Nur Aiman Mohd Zariff won the King of the Mountain classification in the 2020 and 2022 editions of the LTdL. The 2021 edition was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Also present at the event were the director-general of the National Sports Council, Datuk Ahmad Shapawi Ismail, and the vice-president of the Malaysian National Cycling Federation, Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill.
Tourism Malaysia will contribute RM1 million in cash to sponsor the polka dot jersey.
The race will begin on Saturday in Kerteh, Terengganu, and conclude on September 30 in Kuala Lumpur. – September 18, 2023