Debesay edges Bayly to grab Stage Four mountain climb
PETALING JAYA: Dimension Data continued their hot streak with Eritrea’s Mekseb Debesay finishing first on the 174.4km Stage Four mountain climb from Seri Manjung to Cameron Highlands, beating Australian Cameron Bayly by the length of a bike. Both clocked 4’37:49.
There was more joy for the South African outfit with Australian Ryan Gibbons coming in third on the line only four seconds later to retain the yellow jersey and set them up with a good chance to become the first team to win three Le Tour de Langkawi titles in a row.
Algerian Youcef Reguigui and South African Reinardt Janse van Rensburg emerged victorious for Dimension Data in 2015 and 2016. “This is my first big victory.
“We rode together with my team-mates all day.
“The finale was quite hard but I followed some good riders and I outsprinted them.
“It was always my childhood dream in Africa to become a successful professional cyclist.
“It’s a dream come true now,” said Debesay, who only joined the team last year.
Bayly of IsoWhey Sports Swisswellness moved up to second overall as he finished right behind Debesay and ahead of a group of nine riders who surged atop the final climb.
“This is definitely a good result. I am a little bit disappointed to be second and not to win, being so close, but at the end of the day I was just not quick enough for the sprint. There were quite a few attacks before,” said Bayly.
Today’s Stage 5 – from Meru Raya to Kuala Kubu Bahru with a distance of 151.5km – should suit the sprinters.