LE TOUR DE LANGKAWI
2 decades of Malaysia’s Biggest Road Race
The 20th edition of the LTdL saw a sea change taking place, with the reins being handed over from the Kementerian Belia dan Sukan (Ministry of Youth and Sport, KBS) to a new organiser. With the change taking place at the eleventh hour, a fair number of the cycling public expressed their misgivings about the 2015 race. What was apparent when the race kicked off in Langkawi on the 8th of March was that many of the supporting services, crews and teams, most of whom are veterans of previous editions of the race, had done their utmost to ensure a memorable and successful race.
The race was shortened for this year, down 2 stages to 8 from the previous 10 days of racing. Most of the stages favoured the sprinters, notably Caleb Ewan, the newcomer from Orica-Greenedge, and Andrea Guardini, the multiple LTdL stage winner from Astana Pro Team. A crossing of the Banjaran Titiwangsa happened on the 3rd stage, with an ascent to 1,006m from Gerik to Tanah Merah. A last minute cancellation of the Queen stage, the climb to Genting Highlands, took everyone by surprise. According to the official statement, the cancellation took place due to safety concerns. Fraser’s Hill was substituted for stage 7, which resulted in difficulties for media covering the stage due to a technical miscommunication.
The race began in Langkawi, the traditional home of the LTdL. The peloton then transited to Alor Setar, for the second stage to Sungai Petani. Another transit for stage 3 saw a start from Gerik to Tanah Merah, while stage 4 took the race from Kota Bahru to Kuala Berang. The peloton then moved down the beautiful beaches of the East Coast to Kuantan, and the 5th stage was a short sprint from Maran to Karak. A long climb to Fraser’s Hill from Shah Alam concluded stage 7, and the final descent into Kuala Lumpur and a criterium around the Golden triangle crowned the 2015 LTdL.
Many of the stages this year also had past noon flag offs, in order to accommodate TV broadcasting in Europe. This meant that the peloton had to bear the brunt of the Malaysian sun, with bottles of isotonic fluids being rapidly consumed. The racing in the peloton this year was a lot more cut throat and closer, with several riders coming together catastrophically in stages 2, 3, 4, and 6, with the resultant injuries. Bunch finishes were the norm, with winning coming down to the sprints starting at the 200 meter mark. The only solo finish was in Kuantan, when KSPO’s Seo Joon Yong crossed the line alone, after making a lone breakaway in the last 25km.
Loh Sea Keong of Malaysia National Team showed true grit and fighting spirit, leading several breakaways and consistently putting himself at the front of the pack, although a podium finish eluded. Anuar Manan of TSG had better luck in the opening, placing third in the first stage in Langkawi.
The race for the first place finishes boiled down to a competition between Andrea Guardini of Astana and Caleb Ewan of Orica Greenedge. Andrea won 4 stages this year, bringing his total number of wins in the LTdL to a total of 18, a record that looks hard to be beaten. Caleb Ewan, in his first ever LTdL, made a great showing, wresting the yellow jersey away from Andrea Guardini in Sungai Petani and keeping it till Fraser’s, when he handed it over to Youcef Reguigui of MTN-Qhubeka. Youcef rode a very tactical and consistent race, staying high up in the points and winning the General Classification for the 20th edition of the LTdL. United Healthcare’s Kiel Reijnen took red from stage 1 and earned the King of the Mountains title.
The Points crown and blue jersey went to Caleb Ewan of Orica Greenedge, and Tomohiro Hayakawa of Aisan Racing took home the white jersey for best Asian rider. The Team G.C. and also Classification for best Asian team, went to Pegasus Continental Cycling Team, whose consistent performance and great teamwork gave them a well deserved win.
In all, the 20th LTdL marked a new chapter for Malaysia’s biggest cycle race, with a new organiser, and new aspirations. Cycling Malaysia hopes to see continuous improvements in the organisation of the race, in order that it reaches a wider audience, and attracts more Malaysians to the joys of cycling both as a sport and recreation.
