The road up to Fraser’s Hill may be picturesque but contains steep sections to test even the fittest of cyclists.
The 111th edition of the Tour de France delivered another explosive series of stages, culminating in a finale on July 21 in Nice.
Among the most watched sporting events in the world and widely agreed to be the most brutal, the three-week 2024 Tour de France saw 176 of the world’s most elite cyclists battle over 21 stages totalling 3,498km, climbing some of Europe’s most demanding mountain routes.
The road up to Fraser’s Hill may be picturesque but contains steep sections to test even the fittest of cyclists.
The Herculean efforts displayed by Tour de France champions like Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard will undoubtedly inspire many road cyclists to pick up the pace of their rides and train to be one wheel closer to these modern-day cycling icons.
While only a few of us can fly ourselves and our gear to the Alps and Pyrenees to ride the same high mountains, let’s look at several routes near the Klang Valley that are no less fun and challenging to train on.
Plus, it is always lovely to take in the views of nature that our local routes can offer.
The road up to Fraser’s Hill may be picturesque but contains steep sections to test even the fittest of cyclists.
These are by no means the only routes that regularly entice local riders, but they are among the most popular ones, tackling challenging hills and mountains where road cyclists can get a taste of the brutal efforts suffered by the most elite Tour de France riders.
The exhilaration of bombing down these slopes can be second only to the personal satisfaction of conquering them.
The route starts from Jalan Gombak, near the Gombak Orang Asli Hospital (HOAG), to Genting Sempah R&R (30km).
This part of Jalan Gombak, an old route to Genting Highlands, is a short but popular 14km route that steadily climbs through the cool shades of the forests hugging the road.
The Fraser’s Hill climb is a must-ride route for many cyclists seeking to test themselves and take in some fresh air.
It’s doable for beginners with some fitness base and still poses a good challenge for road and mountain bike cyclists.
This route straddles Selangor and Pahang, connecting to the Genting Sempah R&R, and continues towards Bukit Tinggi and Janda Baik for a longer distance.
Catch your breath on the way up to Genting Peras by a roadside overlooking the Semenyih Dam lake.
If you feel powerful that day, consider heading to Bentong for lunch. Just watch out for the odd pothole or two.
The ride back to the HOAG is about 100km in total mileage.
In addition to cyclists, marathoners and ultra-runners train here, so keep an eye out and share the road.
A portion of the road up to Genting Peras.
The ride starts from Pekan Batu 14, Hulu Langat and takes you to Bukit Hantu and Kampung Kongkol, Negeri Sembilan. It covers 76.5km.
This route is a famous series of rides that starts at Batu 14 or Batu 18 towns in Hulu Langat, depending on how far you would like to drive the car to the starting point.
From Batu 14, Bukit Hantu almost immediately greets riders with steep climbs before quickly descending to the scenic Semenyih Dam lakeside for a few selfies.
The Genting Peras border point between Selangor and Negeri Sembilan offers a welcome respite.
Alternatively, riding from Batu 18 town takes riders on a gentle roll through the countryside before climbing Genting Peras, which lies on the border between Selangor and Negeri Sembilan.
From there, it’s a 13km ride downhill to Kampung Kongkol and back again the same way to Batu 14 or Batu 18 if you start from there.
The Setia EcoHill Mall to Jalan Kuala Klawang – Seremban via Lenggeng town is a 52km ride.
From the Setia EcoHill neighbourhood mall, head south on Jalan Semenyih until a left turn to the newly paved roads of Persiaran Tasik Senangin 1, leading to Lenggeng town.
Upon reaching Genting Peras from Pekan Batu 14 Hulu Langat, cyclists can take a break and return to the start or continue on to Kampung Kongkol.
A hair-raising climb awaits after leaving Lenggeng town through the Lenggeng Forest Reserve before a fast descent to the junction of Jalan Jelebu.
After a breather, turn around and attack the Lenggeng Forest Reserve route again to return to the start.
But for more hills, proceed south on Jalan Jelebu towards the popular and scenic Temiang-Pantai Highway for more effort.
Sometimes packed with sightseers by the roadside, the Temiang-Pantai Highway is a recently built road that attracts pelotons of cyclists.
Another challenging route is the 82km Kuala Kubu Baru to Fraser’s Hill Clock Tower and back.
The town, which just saw a by-election in May this year, is the base for many holidaymakers going up Fraser’s Hill.
The scenic route passes the Sungai Selangor Dam lookout point on the ascent to the Simpang Gap Bukit Fraser on the Selangor-Pahang border.
The weather will be cooling, but expect a challenging few turns of the cranks after Simpang Gap, where the steepness ramps up before reaching the famous Fraser’s Hill Clock Tower.
For a shorter loop, consider starting from the entrance of the Sungai Chiling hiking trail, which faces an unpaved car park with hawkers plying snacks and drinks to end the ride.
