BENTONG: Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) will be focusing on the breakaways in the remaining four stages of Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL).
TSG's Harrif Saleh missed the time cut in today's fourth stage (Kuala Kubu Bharu-Bentong) and thus cannot compete in the remainder of the UCI ProSeries tour.
Harrif, a three-time LTdL stage winner, was the only sprinter in the TSG squad.
TSG sporting director Saiful Anuar Aziz said they will be banking on all-rounders Andreas Miltiadis (Cyprus), Nur Aiman Rosli and Nur Aiman Zariff to make an impact over the last four stages.
"With Harrif out, we don't have a sprinter in the squad and we are bit too far behind in the Asian riders classification (white) and the climbers classification (polka dot jersey)," said Saiful.
"So we will now focus on the breakaway's because at the moment that is the only way (to finish on the podium).
"If you look at today's stage (fourth stage), the breakaway was only caught in the last 300 metres so there are opportunities.
"We are not a threat to the general classification teams but the sprint teams will want a bunch finish.
"We just have to wait for the right opportunities in the last four stages."
A number of Malaysian riders, still fatigued after the third stage climb up to Cameron Highlands, finished over the time limit in the fourth stage.
Besides Harrif, Zulhelmi Zainal (Nusantara Cycling) and Malaysia Pro Cycling (MPC) duo Izzat Hilmi Abdul Halil and Fahmi Khairul also missed the cut.
There are thus no more Malaysian sprinters left in this year's LTdL as national team rider Elmi Jumari is also out of the tour after suffering serious injuries in a crash during the second stage.