Mamat To Ride For TSG In Record 15th LTdL Appearance


KUALA LUMPUR, The Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) have confirmed that Mohd Harrif Saleh, better known as Mamat, is in their team for the Sept 29-Oct 6 Le Tour de Langkawi cycling race.

TSG chief operating officer Nasiruddin Wan Idrus confirmed this today, thus ensuring the 35-year-old Mohd Harrif is set to make LTdL history for the most appearances when he features for the 15th time this year.

‘For me, he’s still TSG’s best sprinter. Anyway, we have yet to find a backup rider on par with him. He is still performing at a top level and a valuable asset because of his experience,’ he said when contacted by Bernama.

Mamat, who has clinched three stage wins in the LTdL, made his 14th appearance in last year’s edition, eclipsing the previous record of 13 appearances set by Iran’s Ghader Mizbani.

Two other former national riders – Annuar Manan and Loh Sea Keong – have also made the most appearances in the LTdL, with 12 each.

Nasiruddin said that, apart from Mamat, TSG lineup would also feature Nur Amirull Fakhru
ddin Mazuki, Nur Aiman Mohd Zariff, Andreas Miltiadis and Anatolli Budiak, while Muhammad Nur Aiman Rosli will be making his debut with the team.

‘Based on his achievement in several UCI championships, we are expecting Aiman Rosli to spring a surprise like he did during the Tour of Thailand (winning Stage 2),’ he said.

He said the team management had set the riders a target of getting at least one stage win and for one rider to secure a spot in the top 10 overall standings.

The 28th edition of the LTdL involves eight stages and covering 1,227.2 kilometres (km), with the island of Langkawi again listed in the race route, which will also witness two stages held in two cities of Sarawak for the first time, namely Miri and Bintulu.

Stage 1 begins in Langkawi, followed by Arau to Butterworth (Stage 2); Taiping to Cameron Highlands (Stage 3), Kuala Kubu Baru to Bentong (Stage Four), Kuala Lumpur to Melaka (Stage 5), Batu Pahat to Kulai (Stage 6), Miri to Bintulu (Stage 7) and Bintulu (Stage 8).

Source: BERNAM
A News Agency