LTdL26 : Jegat Spearheads Totalenergies’ Climbing Charge

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 6 (Bernama) -- Team TotalEnergies Pro Cycling will be fielding their strongest line-up, underlining their determination to dominate the 2026 Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL26) when the 30th edition gets underway on Sept 27.

Realising that the climbing routes will be tougher this year, the French ProTeam have registered six riders with strong climbing abilities, led by Jordan Jegat, who finished 10th overall in the Tour de France in July.

“In addition to his impressive performance in the world’s premier cycling tour, Jegat also secured his first professional victory at the Classic Grand Besancon Doubs this year, finished third overall in the Tour du Jura and fourth overall in the Presidential Tour of Turkiye,” the LTdL26 Secretariat said in a statement today.

Apart from Jegat, 27, the team managed by Thibaut Mace will also feature Geoffrey Bouchard, 34; Alan Jousseaume, 28; Mathis La Berre, 25; Nicola Macerou, 23; and Valentin Retailleau, 26.

According to the statement, Bouchard, a former AG2R WorldTeam rider, has competed in eight Grand Tours, with his best achievements being crowned King of the Mountains at the 2019 Vuelta a Espana and the 2021 Giro d’Italia, while La Berre is a former Arkea-Samsic WorldTeam rider with experience in four Grand Tours.

“Jousseaume, Macerou and Retailleau, meanwhile, are all-rounders who could be seen setting the pace for Jegat, Bouchard and La Berre in the early stages of the climbs, or leading the peloton in pursuit of breakaway attempts that could threaten their top riders,” it added.

The 2.ProSeries-ranked LTdL26 will begin on Sept 27 with Stage 1 from Shah Alam to Kampar and end ib Oct 4 with Stage 8 from Muar to Putrajaya, covering a total distance of 1,258.5 kilometres.

-- BERNAMA