Peerapol achieves the best result among Thai cyclists, securing 8th place in Asia at the Tour de Langkawi.
Wing Commander Peerapol Chaokhwang delivered the best performance among the Thai cycling team by finishing 8th in Asia at the long-distance cycling event "Le Tour de Langkawi 2026" stage 7. All five Thai cyclists completed the race. General Decha Hemkrasri emphasized that everyone must perform their best in the final stage to earn more points and increase their chances of qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA.
General Decha Hemkrasri, Vice President of the Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC), President of the ASEAN Cycling Federation (ACF), and President of the Cycling Association of Thailand under Royal Patronage, revealed that the association sent the professional team "Thailand Continental Cycling Team" to compete in the international long-distance cycling event "Le Tour de Langkawi 2026" in Malaysia from 27 September to 4 October. The event is part of the ProSeries with high points for Olympic qualification.
General Decha reported receiving updates from Coach Tum Wisut Kasiyaphat that the 7th stage on 3 October, covering 158.9 kilometers from Malacca to Batu Pahat, featured 109 cyclists competing. The riders faced steep climbs under intense heat, causing the group to break apart. In the final stretch, a leading group of four riders sprinted to the finish line, with Spanish cyclist Nil Gimeno Ferrer from Equipo Kern Pharma winning the stage in 3:12:33 hours.
All five Thai cyclists finished the stage together with the main group. The best performer was Wing Commander Peerapol Chaokhwang, who placed 8th in Asia with a time of 3:13:06 hours. Also finishing with the main group were Sergeant Bankarn Chaiyasombat, Petty Officer 1st Class Noppachai Klahan, and Police Senior Sergeant Thanachat Yattan, all recording the same time. Apisit Suphan finished in a third group with a time of 3:14:54 hours.
The overall leader is Lennart Jas from Germany, riding for the Swiss Tudor Pro Cycling Team, with a total time of 24:51:45 hours. Among Thai cyclists, Apisit Suphan holds the best overall rank at 50th place and 15th in Asia, with a total time of 25:19:12 hours. As a team, Thailand Continental Cycling Team ranks 18th overall and 6th in Asia with a total time of 76:07:05 hours. They are ahead of the professional team XDS Astana from Kazakhstan ranked 19th with 76:08:49 hours and South Korea's KSPO team ranked 20th with 77:10:37 hours.
General Decha added that their goal is for all athletes to finish the race to accumulate as many points as possible. One stage remains—the final stage from Muar to Putrajaya, covering 188.3 kilometers. The Thai cyclists will strive to perform at their best to improve their chances of qualifying for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, USA.