Stage 2 of the Tour de Langkawi covers 145.6 km from Taiping to the summit of Gunung Jerai, a classic mountain finish that will shed all-rounders and reward pure climbers. The 2.Pro classification and the heat of the Malaysian peninsula add further attrition, making this a day where positioning on the final ascent is everything. No stages have yet been run, so the startlist stats and recent similar-race form are the primary guides.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Jan Castellon earns the top spot by uniting the best available form signal — a top-3 and multiple top-5 finishes in mountain-finish races recently — with climbing that ranks at the very peak of this startlist. Caja Rural is well-stocked to control the race and deliver him to the foot of Gunung Jerai in prime position. No other rider in this field combines recent results and raw profile so convincingly.
Caja Rural
Caja Rural
Jan Castellon is the standout pick for Gunung Jerai: among the best climbers in this entire field and, crucially, the only rider to combine that elite climbing pedigree with a top-3 and multiple top-5 finishes in similar mountain-finish races over the past 90 days. Caja Rural has the numbers to protect him all the way to the final climb.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Nicolas Breuillard and Luca Covili are the two riders whose recent mountain-finish records most closely trail Castellon's. Breuillard's top-3 and double top-5 haul is the second-best return of anyone in the field, and his hills ability gives him the right physical signature for this finish. Covili offers top-5 and top-10 evidence that he can run with the best climbers here, supported by a Bardiani squad willing to work for him.
Bardiani CSF
Bardiani CSF
Luca Covili brings a top-5 and two top-10 results in similar mountain-finish races to the table, making him a legitimate threat on the final ascent. His climbing ranks among the stronger efforts in this field, and Bardiani CSF should be willing to let him go early.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies
Nicolas Breuillard has been the most consistent performer in mountain-finish races recently, posting a top-3 and two top-5s in similar-profile events — form that stands out even against riders with superior raw climbing ability. His hills score backs up that consistency on ramps like Gunung Jerai.
★★
Dark Horses
Jannis Peter, Geoffrey Bouchard, and Jorge Gutiérrez each carry a top-10 in similar mountain-finish races — fewer results than the 3-star pair but still meaningful evidence of competitiveness at altitude. Bouchard brings TotalEnergies numbers, Gutiérrez has Kern Pharma cover, and Peter's small sample belies an efficiency that cannot be dismissed. Any of the three could sneak onto the podium if the race fractures early.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies
Geoffrey Bouchard is a seasoned climber who notched a top-10 in a similar mountain-finish race recently and brings proven TotalEnergies team support. He may not have the explosiveness of the very top climbers, but he is rarely far off on a sustained final ascent.
Unibet Rose
Unibet Rose
Jannis Peter quietly landed two top-10s in similar-profile races recently, impressive given he only contested a handful of them. He sits just below the very top climbing tier but is consistent enough on mountain finishes to be a dark horse here.
Kern Pharma
Kern Pharma
Jorge Gutiérrez registered a top-10 in a comparable mountain-finish race recently and carries solid climbing numbers for this field. Kern Pharma's presence in numbers gives him a platform to contest the final kilometres.
★
Ones to Watch
Abel Balderstone, Juan Guillermo Martinez, Harold Martín López, and Mario Aparicio all possess climbing or hills profiles that suit Gunung Jerai — they are not here through lack of talent but through an absence of recent similar-race results to confirm their form. Balderstone and Martinez sit at the very top of the climbing order and could easily beat their tier on the day, while López's XDS Astana backing and Aparicio's exceptional hills ability on a punchy ramp make both worth watching.
Caja Rural
Caja Rural
Abel Balderstone is one of the top climbers on the startsheet but has yet to convert that ability into a top-10 in similar-profile races recently. Caja Rural's depth means he could be a protected option if Castellon falters.
XDS Astana
XDS Astana
Harold Martín López sits in the upper climbing bracket of this field and has the support of XDS Astana, a team built for stage racing. No similar-profile results to point to recently, but his profile screams mountain-finish threat.
Picnic PostNL
Picnic PostNL
Juan Guillermo Martinez matches Balderstone at the very top of the climbing rankings yet has no similar-race results to show recently. Picnic PostNL would need him to step up on the day, but the raw talent is clearly there for a surprise result.
Burgos
Burgos
Mario Aparicio stands out as the hills specialist in this Burgos lineup — his hills score is the highest of any rider in the top climbing tier. He has not converted that into recent similar-race results, but a punchy ramp like Gunung Jerai suits his profile well.
Verdict
Jan Castellon is the clear top favourite, combining elite climbing with the best recent mountain-finish results in the field; Nicolas Breuillard and Luca Covili are the most dangerous challengers based on their consistent performances in similar races over the past 90 days.