LTdL: Two Former TSG Riders To Lead Burgos-Burpellet BH Challenge

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 (Bernama) -- Two former experienced riders will be the key weapons for Spanish ProTeam Burgos-Burpellet BH in the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2025, scheduled to take place from Sept 28 to Oct 5.

In a statement today, the team, making their fourth consecutive appearance, announced their line-up featuring two former Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) riders, Merhawi Kudus and Jambaljamts Sainbayar, alongside last year’s King of the Mountains polka dot jersey winner, Mario Aparicio Munoz.

The other three riders are David Martin, Georgios Bonglas and Jose Manuel Diaz Gallego, all of whom have previously competed in the LTdL.

LTdL25 Chief Operating Officer, Emir Abdul Jalal said based on the list of six riders, the team is expected to be chasing at least three titles in the eight-stage race.

“This time Burgos’ strength lies in the climbing stages, and with four climbers, it will be exciting to see their tactics each day, particularly with Kudus, Sainbayar and Aparicio on the hilly routes,” he said.

“With all their experience and knowledge of the routes, coupled with the unpredictable weather in this country, Burgos are seen to have their own strengths throughout the eight days of competition,” he added.

Kudus, 31, who donned the TSG jersey last year, rose to prominence after joining MTN-Qhubeka in 2014, finishing second overall in the LTdL that year.  

During his four years with Qhubeka, his talent earned him spots with WorldTeams Astana (2019-2021) and EF Education (2022-2023), where he competed in the Giro d’Italia (twice), Tour de France (once) and Vuelta a España (six times).

Sainbayar, 31, also a respected climber, rode with TSG for three years (2021-2023) and finished ninth overall in the 2022 edition, achieving numerous victories across Asia before joining Burgos last year as Mongolia’s national champion.

LTdL 2025 will cover 12 states across Peninsular Malaysia with a total distance of 1,243.5 kilometres, featuring 22 teams including three WorldTeams, eight ProTeams, 10 Continental outfits and one Malaysian national team.

The race will kick off in Langkawi with a 96.5km stage, followed by Padang Besar-Kepala Batas (170.1km), Gerik-Pasir Puteh (198.2km), Kuala Terengganu-Kemaman (140.8km), Temerloh-Fraser’s Hill (133.7km), Shah Alam-Port Dickson (123.4km), Melaka-Medini (214.6km) and Tangkak-Kuala Lumpur (180.5km).  

-- BERNAMA