KUALA LUMPUR: The organisers of the 2018 Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL), Ciclista Sports Sdn Bhd will not cover not protect any rider who commits serious offences which includes assaulting other riders.
LTdL’s chief operations officer, M. Kumaresan sounded out a warning to all riders and teams that they can be disqualified from the race if the race commissar finds any of them guilty of committing serious offences that can tarnish LTdL’s image.
Therefore, Kumaresan hopes all riders and their respective teams competing in the LTdL will take note of the case involving Giant Cycling Team’s rider from China, Chen Zhiwen who was disqualified by the commissar after being found guilty of violent behavior and assaulting another rider yesterday after the end of the third stage from Kota Baru to Kuala Terengganu.
“As the organisers of LTdL, we will not take sides with any rider even if they are Malaysians, in fact we will allow the commissar to evaluate and assess the situation in order to make an informed decision, such as the one made to disqualify rider No 111 (Chen Zhiwen) from the race and fine him as well.
“Apart from this, the commissar also made the decision to fine Hariff Salleh even though he was the victim and only acted in self-defense.
“For me the commissar’s decision was not only spot on, but it also showed firmness and impartiality,” he said via a media statement issued here earlier today (Wednesday).
Speaking further, Kumaresan said that he is confident that the incident will not affect or tarnish LTdL’s image.
Yesterday (Wednesday), NSTP Sport reported that Zhiwen was disqualified from the race after being found guilty of assaulting Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) rider Hariff Salleh as soon as the third stage ended in Kuala Terengganu.