Adventure in Malaysia for Team Polti Kometa: Tour of Langkawi

Team Polti Kometa travels to Malaysia for the Tour of Langkawi, the penultimate stage race that will last eight days and will be dominated by days for the sprinters. In the final stretch of the season, the objectives will continue to be the fight for stage victories and the leading positions in the general classification.

The Tour de Langkawi expedition is already in Malaysia for a competition in which short and nervous stages will be the keynote, with a top-level participation and routes favourable to the fastest riders. At least six days will be decided, if nothing prevents it, in a mass finish. The general classification should be decided on the third day, with 170 kilometres and two long, consecutive climbs in the final part, although without a high finish that could be decisive. Small climbs and high speed will mark the rest of the days of the competition.

The team that will face this Tour de Langkawi divides its strength between the fight for the sprint finishes, at least six opportunities, where Manuel Peñalver will be the reference against the big sprinters, but with the fundamental support of David Martín in the positioning in the final part. In the third stage, called to decide the general classification, the ambition is to achieve the best possible result with Paul Double, who will aspire to the victory with the support of climbers like Fernando Tercero and Germán Gómez. Completing the line-up is Andrea Pietrobon, capable of contributing both in the mass finishes and in the more demanding finishes, as well as looking for his own opportunities if the race allows breakaways.

Manuel Peñalver: ‘We are going with a lot of ambition and motivation to get the victory and above all to take advantage of every opportunity in the sprint. We have worked well and the feeling is very good, and we bring a great team to also do the best possible result in the general classification. We have to be ambitious and go for the maximum, and above all that luck is with us’.

Jesús Hernández, sports director: ‘Of the eight stages, we will almost certainly have six sprints, and two days that should decide the general classification, especially the third day of competition with that mountainous finish but not a high finish. Our trump card is Manuel Peñalver, in whom we trust to be successful in the mass finishes, while Paul Double is the best option for the general classification, surrounded by a good block with Germán or Pietrobon to be protagonists in all the stages’.

Stage 3: Taiping – Cameron Highlands (170’3km)