LTDL 2024: MAMAT AMONG 18 ELIMINATED FROM RACE

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 3 (Bernama) -- Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) experienced rider Mohd Harrif Saleh admitted that he was upset and unable to express his words after being eliminated at the fourth stage of the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2024 yesterday.

Mohd Harrif, who competed for the 15th time on the LTdL stage, had to comply with the ruling after being among 18 riders who did not finish the race within the set time limit (OTL - over time limit) in the race from Kuala Kubu Bharu to Bentong for a distance of 131.2 kilometres (km). 

According to Mohd Harrif who also known as Mamat, even though he had paddled well in the fourth stage, he had not fully recovered from the challenging 'Queen Stage' (Taiping-Cameron Highlands) climb.

"It's true that I also struggled to fight against the set time but the WorldTeam riders are very fast, yesterday I just finished the climb in Cameron Highlands, followed by GAP (Fraser Hill) and yesterday there was another hill.

"Of course I feel sad but I have to accept the fact. This is the first time (OTL) has happened to me in LTdL before 'sticky bottle' or being involved in an accident," said the 36-year-old rider.

The list of 18 eliminated riders also includes defending LTdL champion Simon Carr from EF Education-Easypost as well as four national riders namely Muhammad Fahmi Khairul and Mohamad Izzat Hilmi Abdul Halil (Malaysia Pro Cycling), Zulhelmi Zainal (Nusantara) and Abdul Azim Aliyas (national squad) ).

Mamat has won three LTdL races, one in the 2019 edition and two in 2020.

Today's fifth stage, starting in Kuala Lumpur and ending in Melaka for a distance of 167.3km, offers three climbing zones in Ampang, Bukit Hantu and Bukit Mantin.

-- BERNAMA