KUALA LUMPUR: With a number of Malaysian riders showing strong form this year, local fans have plenty to look forward to when Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) kicks off on Sep 29-Oct 6.
Terengganu Cycling Team's (TSG) Nur Aiman Rosli has been the most outstanding Malaysian road rider so far this season.
He won the second stage of the Tour of Thailand in April and finished an agonising fourth in the Asian Championships road race in Kazakhstan (June).
He was pipped to third place by Astana Qazakhstan's Yevgeniy Fedorov by mere centimetres.
With backing from his TSG teammates, LTdL chief operating officer Emir Abdul Jalal is expecting Aiman to shine in the UCI ProSeries race this year.
Aiman competed in LTdL last year with the national team and was able to briefly take charge of the white jersey (Asian riders classificiation).
The absence of Genting Highlands this year - due to roadworks - should also play to Aiman's advantage.
"I think Aiman has immense potential. He showed signs of what he is capable of after taking the LTdL white jersey last year and he has taken another step this year," said Emir recently.
"He was very close to beating Fedorov, who went on to race in the Tour de France this year. If he had beaten him, it would have proven that Aiman is clearly on a different level compared to other riders in Malaysia.
"We are confident that he will be able to do something outstanding in LTdL this year. TSG are also a formidable side and they are ranked even high than some UCI ProTeams."
Emir added that Malaysia Pro Cycling (MPC) have also shown promising results this season through sprinter Izzat Hilmi Abdul Halil.
Izzat took home the green jersey at the Tour of Thailand after finishing on the podium in three stages. He also managed second place in stage two at the Tour de Banyuwangi Ijen (Indonesia) last month.
"Hopefully MPC's sprinters can do well in a few stages," said Emir.
"All the Malaysian riders from the three teams will have the advantage of having ridden on the routes we will be using for LTdL."
MPC and TSG are both UCI continental teams. They will be joined by the Malaysia national team during LTdL.
The UCI WorldTeams - EF Education Easypost (United States), Astana Qazaqstan and DSM Firmenich PostNL (Netherlands) - have confirmed they will be racing in LTdL this year.