KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 21 – The Organising Committee for the 2027 SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games (MASOC 2027) expressed its gratitude to the National Sports Council (NSC) for the opportunity to collaborate on the 30th edition of Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2026.
Through this year’s LTdL, MASOC 2027 Secretariat, acting as the organizing body for the 2027 SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games, will have an optimal platform to promote Southeast Asia’s premier multi-sport event alongside a world-renowned cycling race.
MASOC 2027 Secretariat Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Datuk Abdul Rashid Yaakub, stated in his speech that with the 2027 SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games taking place just over a year from now, MASOC 2027 requires a top-tier platform to ensure the Games are promoted through an integrated marketing solutions approach, aligned with their responsibility to plan, coordinate and execute the region’s largest sporting event.
“We decided on this collaboration based on the complete return package, particularly the opportunity to promote the SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games globally through international television broadcasts.
“This aligns with our mission to ensure that our neighbours in Southeast Asia are well-informed about the event while tuning in to a cycling race that I consider among the largest in Asia,” Abdul Rashid said at the press conference announcing the promotional partnership between the 2027 SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games with LTdL 2026 here today.
He added that LTdL offers a highly unique and effective domestic promotional channel.
“In addition to full live TV broadcasts and extensive coverage on Astro Arena, Facebook and YouTube, promotional activities along the race route such as the publicity Cavalcade alongside the Voice of LTdL competition, which draws tens of thousands of Malaysians along the roads, are expected to provide immense, cost-effective reach across Malaysia.
“Branding for the 2027 SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games will be prominently displayed on one of LTdL 2026’s official leader jerseys – the King of Sprint Jersey,” he added.
Abdul Rashid expressed delight at securing the sprint jersey branding, emphasizing that since LTdL’s inception 30 years ago, this jersey has always been one of the most fiercely contested among world-class cyclists.
Also present at the event were NSC Event and Sports Management Division Director Safrushahar Mohd Yusoff and LTdL26 Secretariat Chief Operating Officer (COO) Emir Abdul Jalal.
The 30th edition of LTdL26 will kick off with Stage 1 from Shah Alam to Kampar this Sunday and conclude with Stage 8 from Muar to Putrajaya on October 4, covering a total distance of 1,285.5km.
A total of 20 teams including two WorldTeams, eight ProTeams, nine Continental teams, and the Malaysian national team will compete in this milestone 30th edition.
Among the sprint specialists expected to ignite the battle for the blue King of Sprint jersey is XDS-Astana rider Matteo Malucelli, who has amassed six stage victories across LTdL23 to LTdL25 and claimed the LTdL24 King of Sprint crown while riding for Japanese Continental team JCL Team UKYO.
Challengers include his teammate Gleb Syritsa, a four-time LTdL stage winner; Tudor Cycling Team’s Maikel Zijlaard, who secured a 3rd-place stage finish at the 2025 Giro d’Italia and 2nd on a stage at the 2025 Tirreno-Adriatico; Caja Rural-Seguros RGA rider Iuri Leitao, stage winner at this year’s Tour of Qinghai Lake and GP Anicolor; Petr Rikunov (Wheeltop Rotor Chengdu); Pierre Barbier (TSG); and local rider Mohd Izzat Hilmi Abdul Halil representing Malaysia Pro Cycling (MPC).
Meanwhile, Safrushahar remarked that NSC, as one of the key committees responsible for ensuring the successful hosting of the 2027 SEA Games and Para Games, is grateful for MASOC’s readiness to collaborate with LTdL26.
He noted that NSC agreed to highlight promotions for the 2027 SEA Games and ASEAN Para Games through the King of Sprint jersey branding at LTdL 2026.
“We are certain MASOC will see multiplied returns from this collboration, especially given the global broadcast and exposure delivered through channels like Icarus Sports.
“Camera lenses will focus daily on the points battle for the sprint classification both at intermediate sprint zones and stage finish lines right through to the final day at Stage 8 in Putrajaya,” he said.
There are 24 intermediate sprint zones spread across the eight stages, awarding 3, 2 and 1 points to the first three riders at each zone, plus 15 points at the finish line of each stage.
For the record, world-class riders who have previously won LTdL’s King of Sprint jersey include Luca Scinto (MG Maglificio-Technogym) in 1997; 2004 World Champion Paolo Bettini (Mapei-Quickstep) in LTdL 2001; and Caleb Ewan (Orica GreenEdge) in 2015, a five-time stage winner across the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia.
Andrea Guardini, who holds the record of 24 stage wins in LTdL history, was crowned King of Sprint three times with three different teams: 2012 (Farnese Vini-Selle Italia), 2016 (Astana Pro Team), and 2018 (Bardiani-CSF).
Categorized as a 2.ProSeries event, LTdL26 is organized by the Ministry of Youth and Sports (KBS) through the NSC, with full support from the Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF).
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