LTDL 2024: NUR AIMAN FAILS TO GET ON PODIUM BUT CLINCHES MOST COMBATIVE RIDER AWARD

BINTULU, Oct 5 (Bernama) -- Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) rider Muhammad Nur Aiman Mohd Zariff is relieved despite failing to achieve a podium finish in the penultimate stage of the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2024 today.

The 27-year-old said he was proud to have instead clinched the Most Combative Rider award in Stage 7 from Miri to Bintulu today.

"Today, the target was for me to get on the podium (in Stage 7). In the past three days, I could see that the ProTeams have been giving their 100 per cent in the races and, right from the start, they (the other riders) have been aggressive and tried to break away.

"Although I did not get on the podium today, I'm glad there is still something meaningful for me to work hard for tomorrow. I hope to get something from this race,” he said.

Earlier, Nur Aiman ended the 199.3-kilometre (km) Stage 7 race in 66th position after clocking 4 hours, 18 minutes and 03 seconds (s).

His teammate, Nur Amirull Fakhruddin Mazuki had clinched the same award in Stage 2 from Arau to Butterworth.

Meanwhile, Nur Aiman said the unpredictable weather conditions affected his chances of doing well in Stage 7.

"It was already raining when the race started. Then, there were places where it was hot and then it rained again. We used up a lot of energy because of the unpredictable weather conditions.

"I was struggling to stay in front right from the start. I tried my best and I even tried to chase after the peloton in the final 20km,” he said.

The final stage - Stage 8 - tomorrow involves a 147.5km ride around Bintulu and it will have three sprint zones at Kem Batu 18, Lasar Kenyalang 1 and Lasar Kenyalang 2.

-- BERNAMA