KUALA LUMPUR – The Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) will not be cancelled outright at this stage, although individual stages could be shortened or called off if worsening haze makes racing unsafe.
Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill said decisions would be made on a day-to-day and case-by-case basis, with the health and safety of riders remaining the priority.
Speaking to Scoop, Amarjit said more than two weeks remained before the race and expressed hope that the haze situation would improve, allowing the prestigious cycling event to proceed as planned.
“Cancelling the race is not an option at this stage, especially considering the financial commitments, ticket sales, organisers and all the preparations that have already been made.
“However, we will look at the situation on a case-by-case basis and make the necessary decisions depending on the conditions on the day,” he said.
The 30th edition of LTdL, scheduled from September 27 to October 4, will feature eight stages across Malaysia, bringing together professional cycling teams and riders from around the world.
As riders spend several hours on the road during each stage, prolonged exposure to unhealthy or hazardous air could pose a serious health risk if the haze worsens.
Amarjit said fluctuating air quality meant organisers would need to monitor conditions continuously before determining the best course of action.
“Planning, ticketing and the decision on whether to cancel will be assessed on a day-to-day basis. For example, yesterday, the situation in Kuala Lumpur was fine at certain times, but at other times the air quality was bad.
“So, we have to look at the situation as it develops and assess it accordingly,” he said.
While acknowledging the extensive preparations and financial commitments involved, Amarjit stressed that these considerations would not override rider safety.
“A lot of planning has gone into the race, and we cannot simply cancel the entire event without considering all these factors.
“However, if the air quality becomes extremely poor or the situation becomes dangerous, then we have to consider what is best for the riders,” he said.
He added that shortening a stage or cancelling an individual stage remained among the options if conditions deteriorated significantly.
“We will also take into consideration the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI)’s guidelines and recommendations. If there is extreme heat or if the conditions become dangerous, there are options available, such as shortening the race or cancelling a particular stage if necessary,” he said.
Amarjit said the situation would continue to be monitored in the coming weeks, with organisers hoping conditions would improve before the race begins.
“As far as we are concerned, we still have more than two weeks to go, and we hope the situation will improve. We are hoping that the conditions will get better and that we can proceed with what we have planned.
“We will assess the situation on a day-to-day basis and see how things develop. We also hope that the overall situation will turn out to be better and that we can go ahead with the race as planned,” he said.
Malaysia continues to monitor air quality in several areas amid concerns over worsening haze.
Under Malaysia’s Air Pollutant Index (API), readings of zero to 50 indicate good air quality, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and readings above 300 hazardous.
Amarjit reiterated that rider health and safety would ultimately guide any decision if haze conditions reached dangerous levels.
“At the end of the day, the safety and health of the riders have to be taken into consideration. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and make the appropriate decision based on the conditions at that particular time,” he said.
The 30th edition of LTdL is scheduled to take place from September 27 to October 4, featuring eight stages across Malaysia. – September 17, 2026