Lennart Jasch, a 25-year-old German rider for Tudor Pro Cycling Team, is set to make his debut at the 30th edition of Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL), which begins today in Shah Alam. Jasch’s entry into professional cycling came unexpectedly after an injury in 2023 forced him to retire from a successful career in track speed skating.

Having spent over a decade competing at elite levels on ice, Jasch turned to cycling as part of his rehabilitation. He quickly developed a passion for the sport and began participating in local races. His talent was soon recognized, leading to a contract with Red Bull in 2025 and joining Tudor Pro Cycling this year.

Despite only taking up cycling two and a half years ago, Jasch has made rapid progress, highlighted by his victory in a mountain stage at the 2025 Tour of the Alps. Known for his climbing ability, he is preparing to tackle the LTdL’s three key mountain stages: Gunung Jerai (Stage 2), Cameron Highlands (Stage 4), and Genting Highlands (Stage 5). Jasch acknowledges the challenges posed by the altitude, steep gradients, and notably high humidity typical of the region.

“Mountain stages in Europe tend to be either very long or extremely steep,” he said. “Here, they are both. The humidity also adds a new layer of difficulty.” He also noted that while cycling races demand endurance over several hours, the decisive effort in the final moments remains familiar to him from his skating career.

In other news, the XDS-Astana team encountered a setback during a training session ahead of the race when rider Matteo Malucelli crashed, injuring his hand. Team sports director Peter Kennaugh expressed cautious optimism that Malucelli might still start Stage 1, pending a final team evaluation.

Stage 1 will commence in Shah Alam today, with the route concluding in Kampar, marking the beginning of this year’s much-anticipated event.