Putrajaya:Batu Pahat Malaysia Pro Cycling rider Mohamad Izzat Hilmi Abdul Halil is determined to secure a podium finish in the 2026 Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL), with only one stage left in the prestigious tour.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the 30-year-old expressed disappointment after finishing 16th in Stage Seven, which took place from Melaka to Batu Pahat, despite being named the best Malaysian rider. Nevertheless, he remains hopeful of achieving his long-standing goal in the final stage from Muar to Putrajaya.

Izzat Hilmi, who was born in Batu Pahat, has previously finished fourth in the tour and believes he can improve his standing in the last stage. He stated, "I have previously finished fourth, so there is no reason why I cannot move up to second or third. The most important thing is not to give up and to do my best."

During Stage Seven, he had to alter his strategy after noticing the challenge of closing the time gap with the breakaway group. He focused instead on securing the best possible position among Asian riders. Despite his efforts, he was slightly held up at the final corner, allowing Japanese rider Hijiri Oda to overtake him in the last 50 meters.

Izzat Hilmi's best performance in the LTdL came in 2023 when he finished fourth in Stage One, a feat he repeated in Stage Six of the 2025 edition. With one final stage left, he is resolute in his pursuit of a podium finish.

The concluding Stage Eight of LTdL 2026 will cover 188.3 kilometers from Muar to Putrajaya, featuring three intermediate sprint zones in Simpang Ampat, Seremban, and Nilai, along with a climb at Bukit Mantin.