Stage 4 of the 2026 Tour de Langkawi covers 142 kilometres from Meru Raya to the iconic Cameron Highlands summit finish, one of the most demanding mountain arrivals on the Asian calendar. The profile demands genuine climbing legs and rewards riders who can sustain power over a prolonged high-altitude ascent. With no stage results yet recorded in this edition, the selection battle is wide open and form from recent similar-terrain races becomes the decisive signal.
★★★★
Top Favorite
Jan Castellon stands alone at the top of this preview. No rider in this startlist can match his combination of elite climbing ability and proven recent results on mountain-finish terrain — a top-3 and two top-5s in similar races over the past 90 days place him head and shoulders above the field. Caja Rural's depth ensures he will be well-protected into the final ascent.
Caja Rural
Caja Rural
Jan Castellon is the standout favorite for this Cameron Highlands summit finish. Among the top climbers in this field, he also boasts the most convincing recent form on similar-profile races, recording a top-3 and two top-5s in mountain finishes over the past 90 days — the strongest track record of any rider here.
★★★
Strong Contenders
Nicolas Breuillard and Luca Covili form a strong second tier. Both have demonstrated they can perform on mountain finishes in recent months, each posting multiple top-five results on similar terrain. Either could take the win if Castellon has an off day or gets caught in the wrong move on the Cameron Highlands slopes.
Bardiani CSF
Bardiani CSF
Luca Covili has shown consistent form in mountain finishes recently, collecting a top-5 and two top-10s on similar profiles. He is among the stronger climbers in this field and Bardiani CSF will be looking to him as their key card on the final ascent.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies
Nicolas Breuillard arrives with excellent recent form on mountain-finish courses, tallying a top-3 and two top-5s in similar terrain, matching Castellon's podium count. His climbing ability is well-suited to the long Cameron Highlands ascent and he should be in the mix for the stage win.
★★
Dark Horses
Geoffrey Bouchard, Jorge Gutiérrez, and Stefan de Bod represent the best of the dark-horse tier. All three have registered top-10s in similar mountain-finish races lately and carry enough climbing quality to survive the selection process and contend for the minor placings — or steal a win if the favourites cancel each other out.
TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies
Geoffrey Bouchard brings a top-10 in similar-profile races over the past 90 days and is one of the most capable pure climbers in this startlist. TotalEnergies can play him aggressively on the Cameron Highlands climb.
Kern Pharma
Kern Pharma
Jorge Gutiérrez has a top-10 on similar terrain in recent months, demonstrating genuine mountain-finish credentials. Kern Pharma's designated climber, he could punch above his seeding if the race fragments on the upper slopes.
Modern Adventure
Modern Adventure
Stefan de Bod has a top-10 in similar mountain-finish races recently and is an Epic-rarity rider whose versatility — particularly strong hills and time-trial attributes — makes him a real wildcard on a long, grinding ascent like Cameron Highlands.
★
Ones to Watch
Abel Balderstone, Juan Guillermo Martinez, Harold Martín López, and Mario Aparicio are ones to watch rather than outright contenders. They possess the raw climbing credentials to feature in the final group but have yet to convert that potential into podium results on similar terrain in recent months. One of them could surprise, particularly if the race fragments early and a breakaway survives.
Caja Rural
Caja Rural
Abel Balderstone is among the top climbers in this field on raw ability and has shown up in similar-profile races recently, though without cracking the top-10. Caja Rural's strength in numbers gives him a platform to feature if the race opens up.
XDS Astana
XDS Astana
Harold Martín López is one of the strongest climbers in the field and carries good all-round mountain attributes. XDS Astana has options in this race and López is their most obvious card for a summit finish.
Picnic PostNL
Picnic PostNL
Juan Guillermo Martinez shares top billing on climbing ability in the startlist and has been active in mountain-finish races recently, making him a rider to watch on the final climb even if results have yet to convert.
Burgos
Burgos
Mario Aparicio has been active in similar mountain-finish races recently and benefits from a strong Burgos team presence in this race. He is a credible outsider should a small elite group contest the Cameron Highlands finale.
Verdict
Jan Castellon is the clear favourite — his combination of top-tier climbing and the strongest mountain-finish form in the field over the past 90 days makes him the rider to beat on Cameron Highlands. Nicolas Breuillard and Luca Covili are his most dangerous rivals, each backed by genuine recent podium-level form on comparable terrain.