BUTTERWORTH: Italian Matteo Malucelli timed his sprint to perfection to score the most memorable win of his career so far in stage two of Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) today (Sept 30).
The JCL Team Ukyo rider (3:34:58s) was named the winner of the 154.5 kilometre stage, which started in Arau and ended in Butterworth, after pipping Team Polti Kometa’s Manuel Penalver to the line by the smallest of margins.
Tudor Pro Cycling’s Arvid de Kleijn finished third. Team Corratec-Vini Fantini’s Jakub Mareczko and Astana Qazaqstan’s Gleb Syritsa settled for fourth and fifth.
Terengganu Cycling Team’s Harrif Saleh was seventh in the bunch sprint, the highest placed Malaysian rider on the day.
A visibly delighted Malucelli said he waited for the official results to be released before celebrating his win.
“At the Giro d’Abruzzo this year (April) I thought I had won the stage but it turned out I was second, so I decided to wait for the official results this time,” said Malucelli at the post race presser.
“I have raced in LTdL before but this is the first time I have won a stage here and it is also my first win in a UCI ProSeries tour.
“I am very happy because it is a big result, not only for me but also for my small team. When you win an important race, it is always good.
“I like Malaysia and I like hot weather. For me, the weather is not a problem and winning today proves that.”
Syritsa, who won the opening stage yesterday, retained the green jersey (general classification) and the Russian is hoping his teammate Harold Lopez will take over the jersey tomorrow.
“I made some mistakes in the final stretch and went on the left side while Malucelli took the right and he was so much faster,” said Syritsa.
“For tomorrow I hope Harold will take my jersey. Hopefully he is in good condition.”
Multiple attacks were launched early on in the second stage but it took more than 15km before a breakaway group, composed of purely Asian riders, was allowed to go up the road.
Among those in the group included Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) duo Nur Amirul Fak—hruddin Mazuki and Nur Aiman Rosli, Malaysia national team’s Yusri Shaari and Azim Aliyas as well as Hong Kong’s Ng Pak Hang.
Pak Hang won the intermediate sprints at Sungai Petani and Jitra while Yusri won the sprint at Menara Alor Setar.
Aiman finished second at Alor Setar and Jitra which earned him enough bonus seconds to hang on to the white jersey (Asian riders classification) for another day but with only a one second advantage over second-placed Pak Hang.
Aiman, Elmi Jumari and his Malaysia national team teammate Ren Bao Tsen were all involved in crashes in the second stage. Aiman and Ren Bao were able to escape with minor cuts and bruises but Elmi was forced to be taken to hospital.
The extent of Elmi’s injuries are unknown as of writing.
There were no categorised climbs today, thus Ara Skip Capital’s Tyler Tomkinson retained the polka dot jersey (climbers classification).
The third stage tomorrow, which is seen as the queen stage for this year’s tour, will start in Taiping and end with a hors categorie climb up to Cameron Highlands covering a total distance of 170.3km.
– NST
