PETALING JAYA: Young Dutch rider Frank Van Den Broek (pic) is set to strengthen the World Team status outfit DSM Firmenich PostNL in his maiden participation in the Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) from Sept 29-Oct 6.
The 23-year-old stole the show when he managed to taste the sweetest success in his professional career recently after finishing second behind teammate Romain Bardet in the first stage of this year’s Tour de France.
His ride in the second stage of the Tour de France was considered extraordinary, thanks to his ability to exert power on the high climbs, breaking away on the 206km route from Firenze to Rimini and maintaining the momentum with Bardet to the finish line – which also witnessed the overall champion Tadej Pogacar (UAE Team Emirates) just finishing in fourth place in the stage.
He continued the momentum with the team by winning the first stage of the Tour of Denmark team time trial to occupy seventh place overall in the individual category and emerge as the overall champion at the Tour of Turkiye 2024.
Besides Van Den Broek, the DSM Firmenich team also boast other great riders such as Alex Edmondson (Australia), Niklas Markl (Germany), Casper Van Uden (Holland), Bjoern Koerdt (Britain) and Johan Dorussen (Holland).
The DSM Firmenich team are predicted to be the main challengers to the 22 teams competing at LTdL 2024 in the fight for the overall and level champions, as well as promising a fierce and balanced competition among the three World Team sides participating in LTdL this year.
This year’s LTdL race of 1,190km will see Langkawi Island again listed in the competition route in addition to two stages being held for the first time in Sarawak – in Miri and Bintulu.
– The Star
