World Cup fifth-place Fabian Giger of Rabobank-Giant took the yellow jersey as the first rider to cross the finishing line of LIMBC Stage 1 at Eagle’s Square today.
The Swiss rider from Team Rabobank-Giant clocked 2:23:07.964 ahead Kristian Hynek of Ceska Sporitelna Specialized and defending champion Karl Platt from Team Bulls Fresh from his victory in a Cross Country World Cup test event in Guiyang, China, Giger used his new XtC Advanced SL 29er bicycle today to win the 65km Langkawi’s Round Island course.
Billed as one of the challenge’s favourites, he was dominant from the start by controlling the pace ahead of the leading pack and finished the race with 29.556 seconds advantage for tomorrow’s Stage 2 duel ahead of Hynek who finished with a rear punctured tyre in the last 3km today.
“I am happy it worked pretty well for me after we have to go through the muddy and slippery track. Me and my teammates were very much into the lead in the jungle. Now, my mind is set for tomorrow’s race,” said Giger to the reporters after the prize giving ceremony.
Asked about his strategy for Stage 2, he said: “I will try my best to keep the yellow jersey. Tomorrow is another day and I predict it will be a close fight.”
In the Women’s Open, Lea Davidson from Team Specialized clinched the pink jersey after a close battle with three riders in the final section.
She managed to surge ahead of defending champion Nathalie Schneitter of Colnago Sudtirol and third-placed Janka Stevkova who had to be satisfied with third placing due to tyre puncture occurred during the last mile.
Yesterday’s prologue winner, Eva Lechner was also left to lament her bad luck when the Italian lass suffered a leg cramp during the four-rider battle towards the end.
“It was a close fight. We exchanged position often during the race right from the start. I am so happy to sprint ahead three of my competitors and it is important for me to win it today. I would certainly have to ride much better for tomorrow,” said Davidson, who crossed the line with 3:07:12.385.
Meanwhile, Malaysia’s best finishes were Masziyaton Binti Mohd Radzi with 10th placing in the Women’s Open and Fauzan Ahmad Lutfi who made a decent outing against world class competitors by finishing 13th in the Men’s Open.
Tomorrow’s Stage 2 is a 45km race from East to West Langkawi starting from Lagenda Park, followed by a gruelling Stage 3, the 60km Langkawi Marathon. Stage 4 is an Olympic distance Cross Country race around Langkawi GeoPark followed by Stage 5, a stunning beach front finale around a short circuit at Pantai Kok.
Tradewinds Corporation and Yayasan Sime Darby are co-sponsors as Platinum Partners for LIMBC 2012. Silver sponsors are Telekom Malaysia, Berjaya Corporation Berhad, Maju Group and Proton Holdings Berhad. Bronze partners are AmBank Group and ALM Group Sdn Bhd. The event is supported by the Langkawi Development Authority (LADA).
GC after Stage 1 (brief)
Open Men
1. Fabian Giger (Sui) Rabobank-Giant 2:28:30.427
2. Kristian Hynex (Cze) Ceska Sporitelna Specialized 2:28:59.983
3. Karl Platt (Ger) Team Bulls 2:30:21.044
4. Emil Lindgren (Swe) Rabobank-Giant 2:31:23.338
5. Max Knox (Rus) Team Specialized 2:33:52.153
6. Hendrix Jaap Moorlag* (Ned) Rabobank-Giant 2:35:44.086
7. Leisling Matthias (Ger) Black Tusk Racing By Tomotion 2:35:46.631
8. Todd Wells (USA) Team Specialized 2:37:02.810
9. Burry Stander (Rus) Specialized 2:37:21.748
10. Marx Torsten (Ger) Black Tusk Racing By Tomotion 2:37:38.479
Open Women
1. Lea Davidson (USA) Team Specialized 3:07:12.385
2. Nathalie Schneitter (Sui) Colnago Sudtirol 3:07:28.580
3. Janka Stevkova (Svk) Slovakia 3:07:45.780
4. Eva Lechner (Ita) Colnago Sudtirol 3:07:55.980
5. Elisabeth Sveum (Nor) Norway 3:09:34.674
6. Blaza Klemencic (Svk) Felt Otztal X-Bionic 3:13:28018
7. Julia Innerhofer* (Ita) Colnago Sudtirol 3:18:34.334
8. Cherise Stander (Rus) Momentum Toyota 3:22:58.848
9. Jenni King (Aus) Anytime Fitness / Trek 3:25:36.279
10. Masziyaton Binti Mohd Radzi (Mal) Kedah Sbs Giant 3:28:07.343
Master Men
1. Marzio Deho (Ita) Cicli Olympia 2:45:15.177
2. Nicholas Craig (Gbr) Scott Uk 2:47:39:926
3. Anthony White (Gbr) Cannondale Mt Zoom Racing 3:06:55.278
4. Prasert Citmart (Th) Endurace Phuket Beach Boy 3:14:11:811
5. Vanni Balboni (Ita) Green Devils Team 3:17:03.721
6. Zhen Feng (USA) Volt Racing 3:28:30.029
7. Gregory John Dick (Nzl) Malborough Mountain Bike Club 3:33:41.939
8. Lance Andwew Portman (Aus) Asphar Surveying 3:36:36.331
9. Loh Ching Soo (Mal) Singapore Five-0 3:37:22.950
10. Takuma Dan (Jpn) Club 3719 3:39:26:323
Senior Master Men
1. John Ray Funk (Can) Deadgoat Racing 3:40:54.773
2. Hartmut Hofmann (Ger) 3:41:42.378
3. Charles H.B Stander (Rus) Concept Cyclery Specialised 3:49:54.615
4. Abdul Razak Kamis (Mal) Kedah 4:07:18.404
5. Chua Tuan Muar (Mal) Amaniz Cycling 4:19:23.484
6. Kwan Kah Yong (Mal) Scott Malaysia 4:22:25.685
7. Zamani Supartin (Mal) Le Tua 4:38:48.098
8. Frank D Viermann (Ger) 5:09:52.784
9. Farizul Latif (Mal) Scott Malaysia 5:17:02.440
10. Che Mansor B Kamis (Mal) 5:38:51.542