CJMY
Arvid de Kleijn of Tudor Pro Cycling Team claimed a remarkable win in Stage 4 of the PETRONAS Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2024.
De Kleijn, nicknamed the “Little Gorilla,” crossed the finish line at Dataran Bentong after a challenging 131.2-kilometer race from Kuala Kubu Bharu, clocking in at 2 hours, 53 minutes, and 37 seconds.
His sprint finish secured his first stage win of this year’s LTdL.
De Kleijn overcomes tough terrain
The demanding route included several climbs that tested sprinters, particularly at GAP. However, de Kleijn’s resilience and his team’s effort made all the difference.
“The race today was quite difficult for sprinters due to the climbs at GAP. However, all the riders did a great job in catching the breakaway group, and I just focused on my sprint,” said de Kleijn.
De Kleijn, who had previously won two stages in LTdL 2023, credited his teammates for their hard work in helping him secure the victory.
“I felt responsible for not being able to help the team in the previous two stages,” he added, expressing relief at returning to his winning form.
Top riders battle for dominance
Following de Kleijn’s impressive win, Matteo Malucelli from JCL Team UKYO came in second, while Manuel Penalver from Team Polti Kometa secured third.
Malaysia’s top finisher in this stage, Mohamad Nur Aiman Mohd Zariff of Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG), placed 25th.
Despite not winning the stage, David Max Poole from Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL held onto the Green Jersey as the overall leader, finishing with a time of 12:57:35.
Poole, a young climbing specialist from Great Britain, is followed closely by Thomas Pesenti from JCL Team UKYO and Unai Iribar from Equipo Kern Pharma.
Jerseys change hands in fierce competition
As competition intensified, several key jersey holders emerged. Munoz Mario Aparicio of Burgos-BH took over the Polka Dot Jersey (King of the Mountains), securing 20 points.
Poole trails in second with 15 points, while Anthon Charmig from Astana Qazaqstan Team is in third with 12 points.
Meanwhile, Matteo Malucelli retained the Orange Jersey as Sprint King with 34 points.
Arvid de Kleijn, thanks to his Stage 4 victory, climbed to second place in the sprint standings with 30 points, while Gleb Syritsa from Astana Qazaqstan Team, who won Stage 1, holds third with 26 points.
Excitement builds for upcoming stages
The competition continues to heat up as the race progresses. Stage 5, scheduled for Thursday, will cover a 167.3-kilometer route from the PETRONAS Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur to Melaka.
Riders will face three sprint zones in Semenyih, Seremban, and Rembau, as well as three climbing zones in Ampang, Bukit Hantu, and Mantin.
Le Tour de Langkawi remains a thrilling spectacle, with top international cyclists vying for glory across challenging Malaysian landscapes.
As the riders push through the next stages, the stakes are higher than ever.
Keep an eye on Arvid de Kleijn and other top contenders as they battle it out in what promises to be a fierce fight for the overall title.
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