AWESOME START FOR SAPURA
Culey leads team to the front with Stage One victory
TEAM Sapura Cycling (TSC) kicked off their Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) campaign in perfect style by winning the 176.9km opening stage from Kuala Lumpur to Tampin yesterday.
Australian rider Marcus Culey delivered the goods for TSC after a successful solo push from 20km out, crossing the line first in four hours, 20 minutes and 40 seconds.
American Travis McCabe (Floyd’s Pro Cycling) and South African Clint Hendricks (Protouch) came in second and third in the main group which finished five seconds behind Culey.
Culey, who formed an early breakaway with Kwon Soonyeong (KSPO), Brendan Davids and Angus Lyons (both Oliver’s Real Food Racing), said he was elated
to clinch the win for TSC.
“Being a Malaysian team, LTdL is the biggest and most important event for Sapura and I am stoked to be able to win it for them and repay the faith they have shown in me,” said the 26year-old. “It was amazing, coming into the tour I did not expect to get a win but it is about being attentive and ready when the opportunity to push for a win arises. It worked out for us today (yesterday).
“There was not a lot going on through my mind during the latter stages. When I went on my own with 20km to go I was just focused on turning the pedals. I was not actually confident of winning until the final kilometre.”
He now leads the General Classification (GC) with a marginal nine-second lead over second placed Davids. McCabe is third 12 seconds adrift of Culey.
Davids won all three intermediate sprints at Hulu Langat, Ampangan and Kuala Pilah. Lyons took the categorised climbs at Ampang Look Out Point, Genting Peras and Bukit Tangga while Culey clinched the last climb at Bukit Putus.
Culey, however, downplayed his chances of retaining the yellow jersey until the end of the tour, instead highlighting that he is ready to work for TSC’s main GC rider Benjamin Dyball (of Australia).
“The number one goal is for us to help Benjamin win the overall title,” added Culey.
“I am not getting up Genting Highlands (stage four) at the front. But as long as Benjamin is among the front bunch it doesn’t matter if I lose it (yellow jersey).”
The second stage today will start in Senawang and finish at Dataran Pahlawan in Melaka.
The stage will cover a total distance of 200.6km with intermediate sprints at Kuala Pilah, Bahau and Kota as well as categorised climbs at Bukit Putus, Sungai Rokan and Bukit Miku.