LANGKAWI: Terengganu Cycling Team’s (TSG) Nur Aiman Rosli is aware that he has to race smart in the remaining stages of Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) if he is to emerge the overall winner of the Asian riders classification this year.
Aiman attacked early in today’s (Sept 29) 96.5 kilometre opening stage, which started and ended in Kuah town, and formed a small breakaway group that contested the intermediate sprints at Harbour Park and Kampung Bayas.
Aiman placed second at both intermediate sprints behind Euskaltel-Euskadi’s Xavier Canellas, earning him four bonus seconds which was enough to move him into white.
“I am quite happy with my performance today. I was determined to take the white jersey,” said Aiman.
“I don’t feel tired, I tried my best to control myself and my emotions (to not overexert myself).
“It will not be easy to hold on to this jersey until the end but I will try my best.
“I have to take it easy in the peloton tomorrow (second stage) and need to conserve my energy for the third stage at Cameron Highlands.
“There are many strong Asian riders in this tour so my work is far from done. I have to stay focused.”
Riders from JCL Team Ukyo and Aisan Racing Team, which are both Japanese teams, as well as the Thailand national team are among the main threats for Aiman.
Aiman briefly wore the white jersey for one stage (stage four) during last year’s LTdL.
Tomorrow’s (Sept 30) second stage, which starts in Arau and ends in Butterworth, will cover 154.5km.
The stage’s flat profile, which features intermediate sprints at Jitra, Menara Alor Setar and Sungai Petani, will likely see it ending in another bunch sprint.
Astana Qazaqstan’s Gleb Syritsa won the first stage after outsprinting DSM-Firmenich PostNL’s Casper van Uden and VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane’s Lorenzo Conforti, who settled for second and third respectively.
– NST
