As much as his sixth overall impressed, Lachlan Morton’s ability to cope with the volume of racing at the Tour de Langkawi was equally notable. Having just turned 19 last month, the Chipotle Development Team rider was the youngest in the race, yet had no problems recovering as the days ticked by.
“This was my longest stage race,” he told VeloNation at the end of the tenth stage in Kuala Lumpur. “I did an eight day one in Australia, but it was not really at this level. Apart from that, the most was six days…so ten days is definitely long. I felt better every day, I think yesterday [stage nine] was probably my best day. In the past I’ve felt better as a race goes on, but this was sort of unchartered territory. Yesterday I felt really, really good, so that is a good sign.”
Morton is a strong climber and can also time trial well, as evidenced by his seventh overall in last year’s Tour of Utah, plus his general classification victory in the World Cup race Tour de l’Abitibi. Both of those attributes are requirements for good stage racing performances, but so too the ability to recuperate day after day and maintain a strong level.
In Langkawi, he and the Chipotle Development team were able to keep racing aggressively throughout. “I am pleased to have held on all the way to the end. It was pretty chaotic the last few days, with the rain and everything,” he said. “We gave it a pretty good crack yesterday to see if we could try to get up the overall, but in the end Androni rode well and they deserved the win.”
The Malaysian Tour is his first big event of 2011, with the rider having started back training in December and then riding some critieriums plus the Australian nationals. “This is the first real race of the year,” he said, adding: “the goals like ahead.”
He’s based in Boulder, Colorado, and was due to head back there after the race ended. He’ll then speak with his coach and team director Chann McRae, and work out what to do next. Building on his good form is something he is keen to do. “I am definitely sure that I will be racing again in the next few weeks, I will keep the ball rolling,” he promised.