FRASER’S HILL: Team TotalEnergies’ Joris Delbove has one hand on the overall title after winning the queen stage of Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) today (Oct 2).
The Frenchman launched his attack roughly 300 metres from the line and his rivals struggled to respond in time.
Delbove won the fifth stage (123.1 km), which started in Temerloh and ended with a summit finish in Fraser’s Hill (category one), in three hours and 25 seconds.
Two seconds back, Uno-X Mobility’s Anders Johannessen and Tudor Pro Cycling’s Yannis Voisard sprinted to second and third.
Nicolas Vinokurov (XDS Astana) and Adrien Maire (Burgos Burpellet BH) rounded out the top five.
Delbove, who is in his first season with TotalEnergies, said it was a meaningful victory.
“I was well positioned in the final eight km and by five km to go, I was on the wheel of the favourites,” said Delbove.
“When I realised there was an opportunity, I went for it. I gave it my all until the line.
“This is a big achievement for both my team and I. My team has placed their trust in me, I am super happy to be able to repay them.”
Johannessen, who was one of the favourites for the stage, said Delbove was just the better man on the day.
“He (Delbove) attacked at the right moment and had strong legs. He was able to hold off the chasing peloton,” said Johannessen.
“It is a little bit disappointing as I believed we had the legs and the team to win it.”
Delbove has now displaced Astana sprinter Matteo Malucelli atop the general classification (green jersey) standings with a total time of 16:16:34s.
Johannessen is second (+6s) while Maire is third overall (+6s).
Terengganu Cycling Team’s Vadim Pronskiy, who crossed the line 30th (+1:37s) today, lost the Asian Riders’ Classification lead (white jersey) to compatriot Vinokurov.
Malucelli, who finished 80th today (+18:06s), continues to lead the points classification on 57 points with Uno-X Mobility’s Erlend Blikra in second (+33pts).
St George Continental’s Ren Bao Tsen, who crossed the line 44th (+3:55s), was the highest placed Malaysian finisher in stage five with national team rider Kee Zhe Yie (48th, +4:38s) the second Malaysian across the line.
Stage six tomorrow, which starts in Shah Alam and ends in Port Dickson (123.5km), will feature intermediate sprints at Jenjarom, Banting and Sungai Pelek.
– Article source: www.nst.com.my
