KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 15 (Bernama) -- Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2026 organisers are keeping alternative routes ready in case of weather disruptions, including haze and floods, during the prestigious cycling race from Sept 27 to Oct 4.
LTdL chief operating officer Emir Abdul Jalal said the organisers were prepared for various eventualities, but any decisions affecting the race would be made in accordance with Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) regulations.
He said conditions such as haze, rain and floods were beyond the organisers’ control, making UCI regulations the key reference in determining the appropriate action should conditions become unsafe for riders.
“The weather, rain and floods are all beyond our control. What is important for LTdL is that this is a UCI-sanctioned sporting event, and some regulations must be followed under all circumstances,” he told a press conference on LTdL 2026 here today.
Emir said international races had previously been shortened, delayed or temporarily halted due to weather conditions, while LTdL itself faced a similar situation in 2004 when a stage in Negeri Sembilan was stopped and neutralised temporarily due to flooding.
Emir said that if the Air Pollutant Index (API) reading caused by haze reached dangerously high levels, the relevant parties could take action to stop, postpone or cancel a race in accordance with UCI regulations.
“If the API reading for haze is too high and the situation is dangerous, there are regulations in place. They may stop the race, or it may have to be cancelled or delayed. We will provide updates from time to time,” he said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) president Datuk Amarjit Singh Gill said cancelling the entire LTdL should not be considered an option, although organisers would need to make a firm decision if haze conditions reached an extremely dangerous level.
He said the health of the riders must be the priority as they would be directly exposed to polluted air throughout the race.
“Cancelling the event is out of the question. But if the haze conditions on a particular day become extreme and dangerous, the organisers may have to make an important decision, including cancelling a stage,” he said.
As of 9 am today, 38 areas nationwide recorded unhealthy API readings, including in Sarawak, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Melaka and Kuala Lumpur.
-- BERNAMA