POOLE JUST ONE STAGE AWAY FROM BEING CROWNED LTDL 2024 OVERALL CHAMP

BINTULU, Oct 5 (Bernama) -- DSM-Firmenich PostNL rider Max Poole is just one stage away from being crowned overall champion of the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2024 cycling race after winning Stage 7, the longest stage, involving a distance of 199.3 kilometres (km) from Miri to Bintulu today.

The 21-year-old Briton, who has dominated the Green Jersey (overall leader) from Stage 3, completed the penultimate stage in a bunched finish by coming in 50th position, with an overall time of 23 hours, 20 minutes and 06 seconds (s).

He is 13 seconds ahead of second-placed Thomas Pesenti, JCL Team UKYO, in the race for the Green Jersey.

The final stage - Stage 8 - tomorrow involves a 147.5km ride around Bintulu and it is quite certain that Poole is set to make history by becoming the youngest winner of the LTdL since its inception in 1996.

Poole said he has asked his teammates to help him retain the Green Jersey so that he can emerge as the overall champion in the final stage tomorrow.

"We will use the same approach for the final race tomorrow," he said.

Stage 7 today was won by JCL Team UKYO rider Matteo Malucelli, who crossed the finish line in 4:18.03s, followed by Tudor Pro Cycling Team's Arvid de Kleijn and Maikel Zijlaard.

Meanwhile, De Kleijn retained the Orange Jersey (Sprint King) when he accumulated 66 points - just one point ahead of Malucelli.

JCL Team UKYO rider Manabu Ishibashi retained the White Jersey (Best Asian Rider) with a total time of 23:22.24s. followed by teammate Yuma Koishi (23:25.05s) and Aisan Racing Team's Keigo Kusaba (23:25:09s).

BH-Burgos cyclist Mario Aparicio Munoz is on the verge of taking home the Polka Dot Jersey (King of Mountain) after accumulating 27 points, followed by Poole (22 points) and Astana Qazaqstan Team's Anthon Charmig (12 points).

The eighth and final stage tomorrow will have three sprint zones at Kem Batu 18, Lasar Kenyalang 1 and Lasar Kenyalang 2.

-- BERNAMA