GENTING HIGHLANDS, Oct 13 — Terengganu Polygon Cycling Team (TSG) rider Muhamad Nur Aiman Mohd Zariff clung on to defend his title of King of the Hill (Red Jersey) in Stage 3 of the 2022 Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) race from Putrajaya to Genting Highlands.
Nur Aiman, in today’s race of 124.2 kms, performed brilliantly after conquering two of the four climbing zones on offer — Tekali and Look Out Point Ampang.
Ara Pro Racing Sunshine Coast Team’s Carter Bettles and Ivan Ramiro Sosa Cuervo of the Movistar Team then topped the two most challenging climbing zones in the third stage, namely Gohtong Jaya and the top of Genting Highlands.
The result saw Nur Aiman clinging on to the title of King of the Hill (best climber classification) after collecting 29 points, closely followed by Sosa (25 points) and EF Education-Easypost rider Hugh John Carthy (24 points).
“Everything I planned for today came true when I managed to capture two climbing zones early in the race which allowed me to collect points.
“Tomorrow, no climbing zone (KoM category) is offered, and I will return to defend this jersey again in the fifth stage (Saturday) and I really hope to be able to defend it until the end of the race (for Overall Best Climber title in the standings) even though this year’s challenge is much more intense,” he said when met.
In the Stage 3 race, the title of the best Malaysian rider went to the national squad’s Kee Zhe Yie, who finished in the 39th position.
(LTdL Stage 4 is a 137.9-km route from Sabak Bernam to Meru Jaya.)
— Bernama
