KUALA LUMPUR – To celebrate title sponsor Petronas’ golden jubilee this year, the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) road cycling race will head to Sarawak and hold two stages in Miri and Bintulu.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said the decision to hold the two stages in Sarawak is intended to bring this prestigious race to the local population for enjoyment.
“Before this, the LTdL had raced in Kuching in 2020, and now we want to bring this race to Miri and Bintulu for the first time.
“Aside from that, the Miri to Bintulu route in Stage 7 will put the riders to the test with a distance of nearly 200km, providing opportunities for breakaways and determining the overall winner of this year’s race.
“It is very special for Petronas to return to Bintulu and Miri because it is their 50th anniversary,” Hannah said at a press conference today following the launch of the 28th edition of the International Cycling Union (UCI) ProSeries race at the National Sports Council (NSC).
Miri and Bintulu are oil and gas exploration sites for the national oil company.
Petronas came on board as title sponsors last year with a three-year contract until 2025 worth RM5 million per year.
Scoop previously reported that this year’s race will flag off from Langkawi and there will be eight stages of racing from September 29 to October 6, covering a total distance of 1,191.1km.
The last time the island was included in the race route was in 2022.
Another feature of this year’s route is the challenging back-to-back climbs in Stage 3 from Taiping to Cameron Highlands and Stage 4 from Kuala Kubu Bharu to Genting Highlands.
A total of 11 states will host the start and finish lines of the race, which will be organised by the NSC for the second year in a row.
However, three states will not be involved, namely, Terengganu, Kelantan and Sabah.
Three teams from Malaysia will compete in the race, including the national team, Terengganu Cycling Team and Malaysia Pro Cycling. – March 18, 2024
LTdL 2024 Race Route:
Stage 1: Kuah to Kuah (96.5km)
Stage 2: Arau to Butterworth (154.5km)
Stage 3: Taiping to Cameron Highlands (170.3km)
Stage 4: Kuala Kubu Bharu to Genting Highlands (112.8km)
Stage 5: Kuala Lumpur to Melaka (167.3km)
Stage 6: Batu Pahat to Kulai (123.6km)
Stage 7: Miri to Bintulu (199.3km)
Stage 8: Bintulu to Bintulu / Loop (166.8km)
Total distance: 1,191.1km