Terengganu Cycling Team’s (TSG) Kee Zhe Yie made a notable impact in the 30th edition of Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) despite joining the race on short notice. The 23-year-old Malaysian rider, called up just six days before the event, finished as the fastest local cyclist in Stage 2, which featured a demanding 145.6-kilometer route from Taiping to the summit of Gunung Jerai.
Zhe Yie, known for his climbing prowess, posted a strong 27th-place finish on the steep ascent of Gunung Jerai, Kedah’s highest peak at 951 meters. He briefly led the peloton during the climb but found the gradient challenging as the race progressed. “It’s so steep. I tried to take the first King of Mountain at Selama but couldn’t so I just gave it my best at the end,” he said. Zhe Yie was locked in a contest for the white jersey, awarded to the best Asian rider, finishing just 15 seconds behind Japan’s Yuhi Todome of the Aisan Racing Team.
Looking ahead, Zhe Yie is preparing for the varied demands of Stage 3, a flatter route spanning 189.7 kilometers from Sungai Petani to Kuala Kangsar, before tackling the longer and more challenging climb of Stage 4 up Cameron Highlands. “It’s been almost four years since I’ve raced up Cameron Highlands and that route is a lot longer than this. So it will be challenging but I will give it my all,” he said.
Meanwhile, Malaysia Pro Cycling’s Mohd Izzat Hilmi Abdul Halil is seeking to improve his performance after a disappointing start to the race. The 31-year-old national road champion, who recently secured his title, finished 15th in Stage 1, which covered the route from Shah Alam to Kampar. He described the race as disrupted by several incidents that prevented him from positioning himself in the leading group for the final kilometer.
Izzat, a specialist in bunch sprints, conserved energy during the mountainous Stage 2 and now eyes Stage 3’s flatter terrain as an opportunity to capitalize. The stage includes three sprint sections in Kuala Ketil, Lawin, and Sauk, as well as a King of the Mountain climb in Gerik. “If I manage to get over the hill, I will try to focus on the bunch sprint and improve on my first-day result,” he said. The rider, recognized as the best ASEAN rider in previous stages of past editions, is aiming to regain the white jersey after slipping from third place in the standings.
Le Tour de Langkawi continues to test riders with its mix of flat sprints and arduous climbs, setting up a competitive field as the race progresses through its various stages.