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LTdL 2023: Terengganu cycling team aims for glory on home turf | Scoop
TSG cyclist Nur Aiman Zariff's ambition is to secure a podium finish in the opening stage and potentially don the yellow jersey for the general classification. – Scoop pic, September 22, 2023
Sports

LTdL 2023: Terengganu cycling team aims for glory on home turf

Reigning King of the Mountain Nur Aiman Zariff eager to make strong start in first stage

Main Author Image
Faizal Salim
Updated
2:01 PM MYT

 

KUALA TERENGGANU – Terengganu Polygon Cycling Team (TSG) rider Nur Aiman Zariff is looking to have a great start in the first stage of the Le Tour de Langkawi tomorrow.

Nur Aiman is the defending King of the Mountain champion.

The 187.4km stage, which begins in Kerteh and ends in Kuala Terengganu, includes two category-four climbs at Jerangau and Sekayu.

“My goal is to work my way to the front and have a podium finish in the first stage. I am going to go all out tomorrow,” said Aiman.

“It would mean a great deal to finish on the podium in our home state, and it would be even better if I could wear the yellow jersey (general classification) after the first stage.

“Of course, I would also like to defend my red jersey despite the challenge. I know it is not going to be easy.

“I will have to take as many (mountain classification) points as I can in these early stages to stand a chance.”

Aiman, 25, became the first Malaysian to win the LTdL red jersey in 2020, and he successfully defended it last year.

The race was not held in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, TSG chief operating officer Wan Nasiruddin Wan Idrus said that he is hopeful his riders can deliver a win on home soil.

For the record, they have not won any stage held in Terengganu since the team’s inception in 2011.

“Not only have we never won here… but we have not even had a podium finish. However, we will do our best to break that duck this year,” he said.

Their best result at home was in 2012, when sprinter Mohd Harrif Saleh finished fourth in the 10th stage, which started in Tasik Kenyir and ended in Kuala Terengganu.

In 2015, Harrif finished sixth in the fourth stage from Kota Bharu to Kuala Berang, which spanned 165.4km.

Nasiruddin added that he is not focusing on an individual rider to end the drought because they all have their own specialities.

“We have riders who are all-rounders, capable of breaking away and sprinting. One of them is Jeroen Meijers. Jambaljamts Sainbayar can climb, break away, and sprint.

“So it doesn’t matter who breaks the duck as long as they are from the same team. We are a professional team, but if a local rider gets the win, that is even better. It will have a different effect. So we will try,” said Nasiruddin.

TSG fielded a roster consisting of three Malaysians – Nur Amirull Fakhruddin, Harrif, and Nur Aiman. The other three are foreign riders – Meijers, Sainbayar, and Yousef Reguigui. – September 22, 2023

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