Kota Kinabalu–The 25th Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi officially hit the road, with the NTT Pro cycling team taking the Resorts World Genting Criterium International yesterday, here.
NTT’s Max Walscheid snatched the win in the bunched sprint, besting local hero Harrif Saleh of TSG Cycling and St. George’s Blake Quick.
The German clocked in an impressive 1:42:00 in the 80-km loop race, while Saleh and Quick were just a fraction of a second behind at 1:42:01.
Walscheid, the tallest rider in the race with a height of 1.99meters, commended his team’s efforts.
“I think the key for today was that we rolled as a team and communicated well,” said Walscheid.
“I think we did a really good job overall.”
On Wednesday night, the 25th silver jubilee of the Le Tour de Langkawi was celebrated with the team presentation in front of an appreciative cycling crowd here.
Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahatmir Mohamad showed strong support to the event, through a recorded video message, even as Minister of Youth and Sports Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman applauded the organizers for a job well-done.
The Resorts World Genting Criterium on Thursday, served as an undercard for the main Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi today in Kuching, Padang Merdaka.