GENTING HIGHLANDS, Oct 1 — A head-to-head clash between two brothers on the “Queen Stage” of Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2026 saw national squad rider Tsen Ren Han beat his older brother, Tsen Ren Bao, in Stage 5 from Tapah to Genting Highlands today.
Ren Bao, 23, who rides for the St George Continental Cycling Team, admitted to feeling a tinge of disappointment when Ren Han crossed the finish line ahead of him however, that feeling turned to pride as he witnessed the resilience of his 19-year-old younger brother in conquering the *hors catégorie* (beyond category) climb.
“At first, I thought I was alone, but then I spotted the Malaysian national squad jersey. I was happy to see the way he was riding, considering he is only 19 and still new to this level of racing.
“I am very happy with his performance and extremely proud of how he rode. It truly shows just how talented he is at such a young age. Yes, I am very proud,” he told reporters after the race concluded here today.
In the 125.7-kilometre (km) race, Ren Han finished 29th in the stage, emerging as the best local rider of the day, while Ren Bao (30th place) retained his status as the leading Malaysian rider in the individual general classification (GC), sitting in 25th place overall.
Meanwhile, Ren Han expressed gratitude and relief after successfully completing the grueling climb to the summit of Genting Highlands.
“It’s a huge relief that it’s over. I can’t wait to get some proper rest,” he said.
Commenting on his ride alongside his brother, Ren Han emphasised that his priority was not to compete with or beat his brother, but rather to help Ren Bao clock the best possible time to maintain his overall standing.
“I wasn’t trying to beat him. I just needed to help him achieve the best time. However, for me, this climb was truly a nightmare,” he said.
Tomorrow, Stage 6 will take riders from Pandan Indah to Rembau, a distance of 121.3km featuring three Category 3 climbs (Ampang, Bukit Hantu, and Bukit Mendum) and three sprint zones (Ulu Beranang, Rahang, and Rembau). — Bernama
