LTdL 2026: Germany’s Jasch conquers Gunung Jerai to win Stage 2 and seize overall lead

German cyclist Lennart Jasch secured a historic victory at the inaugural summit finish of Gunung Jerai, clinching Stage 2 and assuming the overall leader's jersey in the Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) race. The 25-year-old, riding for Tudor Pro Cycling Team, completed the 145.6-kilometer route in 3 hours, 37 minutes and 21 seconds, overtaking Italian rider Matteo Malucelli of XDS Astana Team at the summit.

Jasch expressed his gratitude to his team, crediting their efforts for his success. The German rider's ascent earned him the King of the Mountains jersey with 15 points, while his total race time of 7 hours, 44 minutes and 4 seconds placed him at the top of the General Classification. Jasch acknowledged that there are still six stages left, including challenging mountainous sections, and emphasized his preference to focus on each day individually.

Italian sprinter Matteo Malucelli maintained his lead in the sprinters classification, followed by Modern Adventure Pro Cycling's Riley Pickrell and Fernando Gaviria of Caja Rural-Seguros RGA. In the Best Asian Rider category, Yuhi Todome from Aisan Racing Team won the white jersey, while Kee Zhe Yie of Terengganu Cycling Team secured Malaysia's best finish.

The next stage, Stage 3, will traverse a 189.7-kilometer course from Sungai Petani to Kuala Kangsar, featuring three sprints.