Sunderland wins first stage of 2017 LTdL

KUALA TERENGGANU: Australian rider, Scott Sunderland of IsoWhey Sports SwissWellness Cycling Team won the first stage of the 2017 Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) Cycling Championship from Kuala Berang to Kuala Terengganu here yesterday.

With the win, the 28-year-old native of Western Australia grabbed the Teal Jersey as the overall leader and the Blue Jersey as the King of Sprint after collecting 15 points at three sprint zones -- Sungai Tong, Padang Air and at the finish line first passage.

Chief Judge, Ibrahim Omar declared that the top eight finishers including Sunderland, had clocked the same time of 2 hours 54 minutes and 45 seconds after crossing the line in a bunch finish in the 124.8 km race.

Speaking to reporters after the race, Sunderland said he was extremely delighted to kick off his campaign in Asia’s prestigious cycling tournament with a positive result.

“Today’s race was not easy as a few riders made a breakaway, forcing the peloton group to increase the speed to catch them and an accident edging closer to the finishing line had affected the race a little bit but I’m glad to pick up a win in the first stage,” said the former Australian track cycling rider.

Malaysian rider, Nur Amirul Fakhruddin Mazuki of Terengganu Cycling Team, on the other hand, grabbed the Polka Dot jersey as the King of Mountain after collecting eight points at two climb zones -- Gerdong and Pelong.

Another Malaysian rider, Loh Sea Keong of Thailand Continental Cycling Team, won the Combativity Award as the Most Aggressive Rider.

Japanese rider, Shiki Kuroeda of Aisan Racing Team who finished in seventh place out of 114 riders overall, grabbed the White Jersey as the Best Asian Rider with a time of 2 hours 54 minutes and 45 seconds.

Stage two of the LTdL today from Jerteh, Terengganu to Gerik, Perak is the longest route, stretching 208.1km, involving three sprint zones at Machang, Bukit Bunga and Jeli and two climb zones at Titiwangsa and Banding.