KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia Pro Cycling (MPC) team principal Sayuti Zahit believes the decision to replace Genting Highlands with Fraser's Hill will open up the Asian classification competition in this year's Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL).
Sayuti said the fourth stage climb up Fraser's Hill, which is less steep than Genting Highlands, will allow more riders to be competitive.
Race organisers National Sports Council (NSC) announced the change earlier this week due to roadworks in Genting Highlands during the race period from Sept 29 to Oct 6.
The Asian rider's classification leader wears the white jersey.
"I think this will definitely open up the competition among Asian riders, especially those from Southeast Asia," said Sayuti yesterday.
"Thailand usually have the fastest Southeast Asian riders when going up Genting Highlands, but with the switch to Fraser's Hill, more riders will have a chance.
"We believe certain sections of the climb up Fraser's Hill will be very narrow, which could split the peloton, so we will have to have our tactics in order.
"We have yet to decide whether we want to try for the Asian team classification or focus more on the sprint stages this year.
"We could opt for three climbers in the team. We will see how it goes."
The climb up Fraser's Hill will come early in the stage, roughly between the 20km and 40km mark, followed by a long descent before ending in Bentong. The stage will cover 148.9km in total.
It will be the second climb of the tour as the riders will face a hors categorie climb up Cameron Highlands in stage three (170.3km).
Adiq Husainie Othman, at the time riding for Terengganu Cycling Team, won the LTdL white jersey in 2016. He is the only Malaysian winner of the jersey so far.
In recent years, national team riders Sofian Nabil Omar (2019) and Nur Aiman Rosli (2023) were able to briefly take charge of the white jersey.