ISKANDAR PUTERI — National cyclist Muhammad Nur Aiman Rosli of the Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) ended Malaysia’s five-year podium drought at the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) by finishing second in Stage Seven today.

The achievement was all the sweeter for the 26-year-old cyclist, who secured the finish in his home state of Johor, in front of thousands of local supporters and his family, who were cheering at the finish line, after completing the grueling 214.9-kilometer (km) challenge from Melaka to Medini.

During the race, the Johor native launched a solo breakaway in the last 32 km before being caught by Great Britain’s Zeb Kyffin with 10 km left in the race.

However, in the last 400 meters, Kyffin was ahead and crossed the finish line first, beating Muhammad Nur Aiman by just two seconds.

“Alhamdulillah, all praise be to God. I am proud (to get second place) because my mother came to watch (the race); she rarely watches it before this.

“I really wanted to win today because I was racing in Johor. So, Alhamdulillah, getting number two is great, and thank you to the people of Johor who supported me, and thank you to my team, TSG,” he said when met after the race.

Nur Aiman’s success also saw him crowned the best Asean rider for Stage Seven.