LTdL 2026: Asian Category Runner-Up Ren Bao looks Forward To Well-Deserved Holiday

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 4 (Bernama) -- After securing a commendable runner-up finish in the Best Asian Rider category at the 30th Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2026, Tsen Ren Bao is putting racing aside for now and looking forward to a well-deserved holiday.

The 23-year-old St George Continental Cycling Team rider completed the gruelling eight-stage tour in 25th position overall in the General Classification (GC), wrapping up his campaign in the final Stage 8 from Muar to Putrajaya today.

"I feel ‘empty’ right now, but I am proud to have taken second place. I did not get the jersey, so maybe next year I will aim for that jersey," he told reporters after the race.

In the Best Asian Rider (White Jersey) category, Ren Bao finished three minutes and 44 seconds behind Aisan Racing Team’s Yuhi Todomi, who won the title with an overall time of 29 hours, 4 minutes and 23 seconds.

Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) rider Kee Zhe Yie took third spot in the Asian classification with a time of 29:10:21s, overtaking Ren Bao’s younger brother, Tsen Ren Han, on the final day.

Ren Bao's standout moments during the tour included becoming the first Malaysian rider to cross the finish line in Stage 4 (Meru Raya to Cameron Highlands), before finishing 30th in Stage 5 (Tapah to Genting Highlands), just behind Ren Han, who rode for the Malaysian national team.

The tour was also a special family affair for Ren Bao, who was cheered on by his father, Tsen Seong Hoong, and reunited with his sister after three years apart.

Commenting on his brother missing out on a podium finish in the Asian classification on the final stage, Ren Bao said he was unsure of what went wrong for Ren Han but viewed the loss of third place as an important learning curve for the younger rider.

He added that the primary difference between the brothers came down to experience, noting that having competed in three previous editions of the tour, as well as numerous other races, had equipped him with the tactical maturity to make the right decisions and avoid unnecessary risks throughout the race.

-- BERNAMA