KUALA TERENGGANU – National team coach Mohd Yusuf Abdul Nasir is looking to challenge for the Best Asian Team and Rider classifications in Stage 3 of the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) today.
Stage 3 covers a distance of 183.1 km, starting from Jeli, Kelantan, to Baling, Kedah.
The route features four climbing zones, including a Category 1 climb up Puncak Titiwangsa with a distance of 1,066m.
The 42-year-old hopes that his team has recovered from Stage 2 yesterday to prepare for today’s gruelling route.
“Today is going to be a long climb, so I hope the boys have recovered. I have the riders who can tackle this stage, so we can still fight (for the classifications).
“If there is a breakaway, we want to be in the front so we can get the time gap to challenge for the Best Asian Team and Rider classifications.”
Yusuf is pinning his hopes on climbers Muhsin Al Redha Misbah and Muhammad Shaiful Adlan Mohd Shukri to spearhead the team’s challenge.
“Today is their day (Muhsin and Shaiful), but we will have to see race conditions as well. Because on the way down after the climb up Puncak Titiwangsa, we still need our sprinters to attack.
“At the same time, if there is an early break, I hope our riders can get in there into the mix.”
The race started at 10.17am. – September 25, 2023