LANGKAWI: Malaysian road cycling great Anuar Manan has urged local sprinters competing in Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) to not show their foreign rivals too much respect when the tour starts on Sunday (Sept 29).
Anuar said Malaysian riders have to be brave and be prepared to get physical in the bunch sprints, especially over the final 200 metres.
Terengganu Cycling Team's Harrif Saleh, who has three LTdL Stage wins to his name (two in 2020, one in 2019), Malaysia Pro Cycling's Izzat Hilmi Abdul Halil and Malaysia national team's Elmi Jumari are expected to fight for podium finishes in the sprint stages this year.
"There are many opportunities for our sprinters to go for the podium this year as there are a lot of flat stages and the climb at Cameron Highlands is also not too steep," said Anuar when met in Langkawi today (Sept 27).
"Harrif has a lot of experience and knows what it takes to be on the podium in LTdL.
"Izzat and Elmi have less experience but they also have the capability to fight for the podium. Nothing is impossible.
"The key is to be brave as the race will be very fast and the foreign riders will also be physically bigger than us. Pushing and shoving is normal in the bunch sprint as everybody wants to win.
"They must not be scared, our riders have to do what it takes to be on the podium. They cannot afford to show the foreign riders too much respect."
Anuar Manan became the first Malaysian rider to win a stage in LTdL during the 2010 edition and also won the sprinters classificiation the same year.
Astana Qazaqstan's Gleb Syritsa, Tudor Pro Cycling's Arvid de Kleijn and Corratec-Vini Fantini's Jakub Mareczko have all tasted success in LTdL before and will again be expected to be among the frontrunners in the sprint stages this season.
The first stage (Langkawi round island), second stage (Arau to Butterworth), fifth stage (Kuala Lumpur to Melaka), sixth stage (Batu Pahat to Kulai) and eighth stage (Bintulu loop) are likely to finish in bunch sprints this year.