Malaysia is ready to welcome cycling once again with the 29th edition of the Tour de Langkawi. Taking place from September 28 to October 5, this now traditional 2 Pro category race will traverse the most significant territories of the Asian state with eight stages mostly suited for fast wheels. 22 teams, including two World Tour formations, will compete over the 1244.2 km planned route, starting from Langkawi, a paradise island popular with tourists, and ending in the capital Kuala Lumpur at the foot of the Petronas Towers.

After the Covid pandemic and a year of suspension in 2021, the Tour Langkawi had to reinvent itself by moving its schedule from February to late September. In this edition, the Malaysian classic falls between the world and European championships, but despite this, several riders will arrive in Asia seeking terrains more suited to their characteristics and valuable points for their teams. The route is not particularly complicated, but beware of weather conditions that have often influenced the race.

As in the 2024 edition, the race starts from Langkawi with the Kuah - Kuah stage, a very simple 96.7 km route that will animate the Malaysian morning before transferring to the main island. This is essentially a tour of Langkawi Island with a single difficulty, the Bukit Malut climb located 13.4 km from the finish, but which should not worry the sprinters at all. For the second stage, the race starts from Padang Besar, a town at the northern extremity of Malaysia, and will pedal 166.1 km to reach Kepala Batas, with no mountain points and a sprint finish practically guaranteed. The kilometers increase for the third day of racing, the second longest of this edition. After departing from Gerik, riders will climb to the beaches of Pasir Puteh. The day's menu includes 3 mountain points, with the last being first category, but the summit is over 130 km from the finish.

The picturesque city of Terengganu, capital of the state of the same name, hosts the start of a fourth stage entirely along the sea. The finish will be after 141.5 km in Kemamam, another opportunity for sprinters, but beware of the wind. Right at the midpoint of the Tour de Langkawi, there will be the queen stage of this edition, Temerloh – Fraser's Hill, which proposes the climb to one of Malaysia's symbolic ascents and will certainly rewrite the general classification completely. The climb of about twenty very regular kilometers will take the group up to 1247 m, the highest point of the entire race. After the climbing stage, there could be a new opportunity for sprinters. The Shah Alam – Port Dickinson stage is free of any difficulties, but even in this case, some attackers might take advantage of the coastal section to animate the race.

The longest stage comes in the penultimate day of racing, which once again lacks significant difficulties. After departing from Malacca, a historic Malaysian city, riders will pedal for full 214.9 kilometers to Medini - needless to say, a sprint finish is practically guaranteed here too. The grand finale of the 29th Tour de Langkawi will be in the capital Kuala Lumpur and promises to be entirely spectacular and not to be underestimated. After a first part of the race that is almost simple, athletes will face 3 mountain points, with the last two, both second category, concentrated in the final kilometers of the race. The climbs are not at all prohibitive, but in case of a tight classification, someone might take advantage to overturn the situation and climb to the top step of the podium right in front of the Petronas Towers.

Stage List:

- 1st stage Langkawi Round Island 96.7 km (Sunday, September 28)

- 2nd stage Padang Besar – Kepala Batas 166.1 km (Monday, September 29)

- 3rd stage Gerik – Pasir Puteh 198.2 km (Tuesday, September 30)

- 4th stage Kuala Terengganu – Kemaman 141.5 km (Wednesday, October 1)

- 5th stage Temerloh – Fraser's Hill 123.1 km (Thursday, October 2)

- 6th stage Shah Alam – Port Dickson 123.5 km (Friday, October 3)

- 7th stage Melaka – Medini 214.9 km (Saturday, October 4)

- 8th stage Tangkak – Kuala Lumpur 180.2 km (Sunday, October 5)