KOTA BHARU – Gleb Syritsa of the Astana Qazaqstan Team turned the tables on Arvid de Kleijn in the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) to claim victory in Stage 2, today.
The 186.2km race started in Kuala Terengganu and ended in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.
Syritsa finished third in Stage 1 yesterday but redeemed himself by crossing the finish line ahead of champion de Kleijn – nicknamed Little Gorilla – from Tudor Pro Cycling Team.
Enrico Zanoncello from Green Project-Bardiani CSF-Faizane crossed the finish line at Aeon Mall Kota Bharu in third place.
“I’m very happy (as) it’s my first win this year. I’m very happy to win in Malaysia, it was a nice race in a nice country.
“Yesterday I made a mistake because I started my attack 300m to the finish line. It was a bit hard but today is the sprint I wanted,” he said.
The polka dot jersey for the King of Mountain (KoM) classification changed hands after Nur Amirul Fakhruddin Mazuki from Terengganu Polygon Cycling Team (TSG) won both climbs in Setiu and Pelong to collect four points today.
He has a one-point lead over teammate Muhamad Nur Aiman Mohd Zariff, who won the jersey yesterday.
“For today the plan was to have a breakaway and get some points for the KoM classification.
“There’s a Category 1 climb tomorrow so if there was a breakaway, my job is to stop those with points from winning it,” he said.
Amirul made a triumphant return to TSG’s LTdL line-up this year after missing out on last year’s edition.
“I always try to do my best but sometimes highs and lows…that is normal.”
The best Malaysian finisher today Mohd Harrif Saleh also from TSG.
Stage 3 tomorrow will start in Jeli and end in Baling, covering a distance of 183.1km, and featuring a Category 1 climb up to the peak of the Titiwangsa Mountains. — September 24, 2023