KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 (Bernama) -- Despite being 35 years old, veteran rider Mohd Harrif Saleh is ready to carry the challenge of the Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) if he is listed for the 2024 Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) race.
Mohd Harrif, better known as Mamat, feels that he is not over the hill yet in the cycling world with an unquenchable thirst for more success in his career, especially the LTdL race held in his own country.
“For me, age is just a number (and) nothing more than that. I still have the energy to continue riding and elevate the TSG name to the pinnacle of success.
“I want to follow in the footsteps of my idol, Mark Cavendish (who is 39 years old) who is still able to take on challenges in competitive racing. So, I will try to do that in the next few years. As long as my services and strength are needed, I will pedal on,” said Mamat in a statement issued by the LTdL 2024 Secretariat through the National Sports Council (NSC) today.
The age-defying Mohd Harrif previously created his own history on the LTdL stage when he held the status as the rider who made the most appearances with 14, surpassing the record of 13 appearances held by Iranian rider Ghader Mizbani, in addition to winning Stage 2 of LTdL 2019 and Stages 2 and 5 of LTdL 2020.
“… if I'm not mistaken, I started racing (in the LTdL) when I was 20. So, if I get the TSG team's vote to race this year, it will be another special moment for me.
“Anyway, I'm training as usual. There is a tournament in China later, so I will try to do my best,” he said.
A total of 22 teams, including three with World Team status - EF Education Easypost from the United States, Astana Qazaqstan Team (Kazakhstan) and DSM Firmenich PostNL (Netherlands) - will be competing in LTdL 2024.
The 28th edition of the LTdL is scheduled to be held from Sept 29 to Oct 6, involving eight stages and covering 1,227.2 kilometres (km).
The island of Langkawi is again listed in this edition's race route, which will also witness two stages held in two cities of Sarawak for the first time, namely Miri and Bintulu.
-- BERNAMA
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