October 18, 2012 (Langkawi, Malaysia) – Fabian Giger and Lea Davison are in the driving seats to land the Langkawi International Mountain Bike Challenge 2012 titles after both retained respective leaders’ jersey after the third stage today.

Giger from Rabobank-Giant rode a calculated race to stay on course for the overall title by finishing one minute and fifty three point zero five six seconds behind Kristian Hynek of Ceska-Sporitelna Specialized who won the 63.9km Langkawi Marathon by clocking 3:53:35.79 with Todd Wells of Team Specialized came in third.

Giger described the Stage 3 as the hardest race of LIMBC.

“This is the hardest race so far. I am a cross-country rider, so a shorter race fits me better than today. It was a fast first lap between me, Emil Lindgren and Hynek. In the third lap I had to go on my own speed but I managed to close the gap on Hynek,” said Giger.

The Marathon today was reduced to 21.3km per lap after UCI decided the night before of the race that it was best to shorten the distance by 5.7km due to weather conditions.

“The race today was very tough. It was a perfect decision since it would around four hours to complete a marathon and bit more climb would be too much. In the end, I managed to get on the podium and I am happy about it,” said the beaming Swiss rider who has four minutes and twenty three point eight two seconds advantage ahead of Hynek.

When asked about the prospect of clinching the overall title, Giger said: “The title is not in the bag. But I want to hold to this shirt. This is a nice jersey..”

The Stage 3 winner Hynek concurred the competition was far from over. The Czech rider said: “It is important for me to win this stage and went on the attack today as I want to move into second place in the overall standing. We still have two stages and we will see.”

In the Women’s open, Lea Davison paced herself well to stay on course for the overall title with second placing behind Eva Lechner from Colnago Sudtirol who won the 42.6km off-road track by clocking 3:06:52.29, with Elisabeth Sveum in third place.

“It was my strategy to stay in touch with the leading pack today. I want to save up my energy today as I realised I have quite a comfortable time ahead of other riders. In this competition, it is important to know how to apply the right strategy,” said the 29-year-old American from Team Specialized.

However, Lechner refused to concede defeat for the title.

“We still have until Saturday. Anything can happen. Tomorrow is another stage and I will keep attacking,” she said.

Malaysia’s best finishes today were Abdul Razak Kamis from Kedah with third placing in Senior Men’s Master while Masziyaton Mohd Radzi improved her position from Stage 2 with a decent ninth position in the Women’s Open today with the of 3:51:06.72.

Meanwhile, Fauzan Ahmad Lutfi remained the best local male rider by finishing 15th from the overall 51 participants who completed the Stage 3 in the Men’s Open.

Tomorrow’s 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.

Results

Men
1. Kristian Hynek (Cze) Ceska Sporitelna Specialized 3:53:36
2. Fabian Giger (Sui) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team 0:01:53
3. Todd Wells (USA) Team Specialized 0:06:18
4. Max Knox (Rsa) Team Specialized 0:07:02
5. Emil Lindgren (Swe) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team 0:09:39
6. Karl Platt (Ger) Team Bulls 0:09:39
7. Leisling Matthias (Ger) Black Tusk Racing By Tomotion 0:11:32
8. Marx Torsten (Ger) Black Tusk Racing By Tomotion 0:12:05
9. Karl Markt (Aut) Feltz-O-Bionic 0:19:35
10. Burry Stander (Rsa) Team Specialized 0:21:57
11. Florian Vogel (Sui) Scott Swisspower 0:30:30
12. Na Sanghoon (Kor) Korea 0:35:50
13. Pangerl Philipp (Ger) Black Tusk Racing By Tomotion 0:36:07
14. Steffen Thum (Ger) Ultra Sports Racing 0:51:50
15. Mohd Fauzan Ahmad Lutfi (Mas) Amaniz Cycling 0:55:04
16. Robert James Wardell (Gbr) Alpine Bikes Racing 0:57:46
17. Simon Gegenheimer (Ger) Ultra Sports Racing 1:07:50
18. Terasak Boonchuay (Tha) Chiru Endurance 1:11:29
19. Muhamad Emir Shafiq Zainal (Mas) Aamaniz Cycling 1:11:46
20. Saiful Khohar Bin Abd Halim (Mas) Endurace Team 1 1:30:21
21. Surasuk Taweesman (Tha) Chiru Endurance 1:35:21
22. Muhammad Nurjamri Bin Joha Brunei (Bru)
23. Mohd Shahrul Nizam Bin Che Pbatm (Mas)
24. Suhardi Bin Hasan (Mas) Lapierre KT
25. Hendrik Jaap Moorlag* (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team
26. Muhammad Raihaan Bin Abd Azbrunei (Bru)
27. Muhammad Hazwan Bin Azmen (Mas) Orbea Malaysia
28. Riccardo Ridolfi* (Ita) Scott Rc New Limits
29. Muhammad Shaid Abdul (Mas) Samadendurace Team 2
30. Wilson Low Wei Cheng (Sin) Singapore Cycling Federation
31. Muhamad Suhaimi Abdul (Mas) Scott Malaysia
32. Nor Azlan Bin Zolkefli (Mas) Scott Malaysia
33. Lim Chin Hong * (Mas) Lapierre KT
34. Mohd Shawal Bin Mohd (Mas) Shafeavanti Team
35. Mohamad Zul Ashraf Bin Zamlkedah (Mas) SBS Giant
36. Mohd Arif Bin Che Awang (Mas) Chiru WTB
37. Mohamad Syafiq Abidin (Mas) Langkawi Cycling Team
38. Shaiful Ahmad (Mas) Amaniz Cycling
39. Zamzi Muhamad (Mas) Arus 1:40:21
40. Lau Cze Kuang (Mas)
41. Surachet Singjui (Tha) Endurace Phuket Beach Boy
42. Michael John Williams (Aus)
43. Sulheilmy Ahmad Isa (Mas) Recovery
44. Richard Ben Hendy (Aus)
45. Wan Mohammed Najmee Wan (Mas) Mlapierre KT
46. Shamsul Firdaus Bin Shahida Pahang (Mas)
47. Mohamad Khaniz Bin Omar (Sin) Singapore Cycling Federation
48. Khairul Amin Ahmad Riozuan (Mas) Kedah
49. Ivan Tay Chin Seng* (Sin) Singapore Cycling Federation
50. Junaidi Hashim (Sin) Singapore Cycling Federation
51. Julian Kaub (Mas)
DNF Yoo Bumjin (Kor) Korea
DNF Roger Walder* (Sui) Scott Swisspower
DNF Mohd Razif Salleh (Mas) Chiru Endurance
DNF Mohd Nor Rizuan Bin Zainal (Mas) PBATM
DNS Kwon Soonwoo* (Kor) Korea
DNS Lim Yew Meng (Mas) Chiru Endurance
DNS Kuhuzairi B Abdul Bakar* (Mas) Scott Malaysia
DNS Chan Weng Leong (Mas) Scott Malaysia

Women
1. Eva Lechner (Ita) Colnago Sudtirol 3:06:52
2. Lea Davison (USA) Team Specialized 0:02:33
3. Elisabeth Sveum (Nor) Norway 0:02:38
4. Nathalie Schneitter (Sui) Colnago Sudtirol 0:03:28
5. Janka Stevkova (Svk) Slovakia 0:04:59
6. Julia Innerhofer* (Ita) Colnago Sudtirol 0:20:38
7. Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Felt Otztal X-Bionic 0:21:13
8. Jenni King (Aus) Anytime Fitness / Trek 0:26:12
9. Masziyaton Binti Mohd Radzi (Mas) Kedah SBS Giant 0:44:14
10. Junaidah Juss (Mas) Arus 0:59:04
11. Noor Fadilah Saiedin* (Mas) Arus 1:21:10
12. Adinya Sai Samorn (Tha) Chiru Endurace 1:31:53
13. Siti Fatimah Binti Ismail* (Mas) Kedah 2:01:37
14. Nurul Suhada Bt Zainal* (Mas) Terengganu 2:25:03
15. Melanie Leveau (Fra) Hora Du Bush 2:30:03
16. Ain Nurul Huda Rusli (Mas) Chiru Endurace
DNF Cherise Stander (Rsa) Momentum Toyota

Masters
1. Nicholas Craig (Gbr) Scott UK 2:53:39
2. Marzio Deho (Ita) Cicli Olympia 0:07:04
3. Anthony White (Gbr) Cannondale Mt Zoom Racing 0:28:21
4. Prasert Chitmart (Tha) Endurace Phuket Beach Boy 0:40:20
5. Gregory John Dick (Nzl) Malborough Mountainbike Clu 0:47:44
6. Takuma Dan (Jpn) Club 3719 0:55:47
7. Vanni Balboni (Ita) Green Devils Team 0:58:04
8. Lance Andwew Portman (Aus) Asphar Surveying 1:11:32
9. Loh Ching Soo (Mas) Singapore Five-O 1:13:28
10. Muhamad Razli Ibrahim (Mas) Amaniz Cycling 1:43:16
11. Mohamad Yusof Ilah (Mas) Chiru Endurace 1:43:18
12. Robert Rowe (Aus) 1:56:33
13. Ridzuan Bin Abd Rahim (Mas) DTM 2:01:33
14. Azman Bin Mohd Nor (Mas) Chiru Endurace
DNF Yuttana Chukaew (Tha) Endurace Phuket Beach Boy
DNS Zhen Feng (USA) Volt Racing
DNS Kenneth Koh (Sin)

Senior Master Men
1. Hartmut Hofmann (Ger) 3:59:28
2. John Ray Funk (Can) Deadgoat Racing 0:06:34
3. Abdul Razak Kamis (Mas) Kedah 0:28:24
4. Chua Tuan Muar (Mas) Amaniz Cycling 0:35:59
5. Zamani Supartin (Mas) Le Tua 0:46:52
6. Charles H.B Stander (Rsa) Concept Cyclery Specialised 0:56:28
7. Kwan Kah Yong (Mas) Scott Malaysia 1:04:19
8. Farizul Latif Zulkipli (Mas) Scott Malaysia 1:50:36
9. Che Mansor B Kamis (Mas) 1:52:55
10. Frank D Viermann (Ger) P.Pinang 1:57:55

GC after Stage 3

Men
1. Fabian Giger (Sui) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team 8:34:14
2. Kristian Hynek (Cze) Ceska Sporitelna Specialized 0:04:24
3. Karl Platt (Ger) Team Bulls 0:09:52
4. Emil Lindgren (Swe) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team 0:14:36
5. Max Knox (Rsa) Team Specialized 0:14:43
6. Todd Wells (USA) Team Specialized 0:18:53
7. Leisling Matthias (Ger) Black Tusk Racing By Tomotion 0:28:28
8. Marx Torsten (Ger) Black Tusk Racing By Tomotion 0:31:20
9. Karl Markt (Aut) Feltz-O-Bionic 0:39:43
10. Burry Stander (Rsa) Team Specialized 0:41:56
11. Florian Vogel (Sui) Scott Swisspower 0:50:36
12. Na Sanghoon (Kor) Korea 1:13:51
13. Pangerl Philipp (Ger) Black Tusk Racing By Tomotion 1:23:56
14. Steffen Thum (Ger) Ultra Sports Racing 1:33:27
15. Mohd Fauzan Ahmad Lutfi (Mas) Amaniz Cycling 1:43:13
16. Robert James Wardell (Gbr) Alpine Bikes Racing 2:00:45
17. Hendrik Jaap Moorlag* (Ned) Rabobank-Giant Offroad Team 2:14:07
18. Simon Gegenheimer (Ger) Ultra Sports Racing 2:40:31
19. Saiful Khohar Bin Abd Halim (Mas) Endurace Team 1 2:55:44
20. Terasak Boonchuay (Tha) Chiru Endurance 2:57:17
21. Muhamad Emir Shafiq Zainal (Mas) Aamaniz Cycling 2:59:39
22. Surasuk Taweesman (Tha) Chiru Endurance 3:05:46
23. Riccardo Ridolfi* (Ita) Scott Rc New Limits 3:30:27
24. Surachet Singjui (Tha) Endurace Phuket Beach Boy 3:30:54
25. Muhammad Hazwan Bin Azmen (Mas) Orbea Malaysia 3:32:56
26. Mohamad Zul Ashraf Bin Zamlkedah (Mas) SBS Giant 3:37:07
27. Mohd Shahrul Nizam Bin Che Pbatm (Mas) 3:37:37
28. Muhammad Nurjamri Bin Joha Brunei (Bru) 3:48:07
29. Junaidi Hashim (Sin) Singapore Cycling Federation 3:49:50
30. Zamzi Muhamad (Mas) Arus 3:54:36
31. Wilson Low Wei Cheng (Sin) Singapore Cycling Federation 4:01:19
32. Suhardi Bin Hasan (Mas) Lapierre KT 4:01:56
33. Nor Azlan Bin Zolkefli (Mas) Scott Malaysia 4:19:49
34. Mohamad Khaniz Bin Omar (Sin) Singapore Cycling Federation 4:23:54
35. Mohd Arif Bin Che Awang (Mas) Chiru WTB 4:33:31
36. Mohd Shawal Bin Mohd (Mas) Shafeavanti Team 4:34:28
37. Shaiful Ahmad (Mas) Amaniz Cycling 4:35:24
38. Shamsul Firdaus Bin Shahida Pahang (Mas) 4:37:20
39. Muhammad Raihaan Bin Abd Azbrunei (Bru) 4:40:44
40. Lau Cze Kuang (Mas) 4:40:54
41. Muhammad Shaid Abdul (Mas) Samadendurace Team 2 4:47:08
42. Lim Chin Hong * (Mas) Lapierre KT 4:50:11
43. Michael John Williams (Aus) 5:00:37
44. Ivan Tay Chin Seng* (Sin) Singapore Cycling Federation 5:08:05
45. Richard Ben Hendy (Aus) 5:08:18
46. Wan Mohammed Najmee Wan (Mas) Mlapierre KT 5:17:49
47. Mohamad Syafiq Abidin (Mas) Langkawi Cycling Team 5:33:02
48. Sulheilmy Ahmad Isa (Mas) Recovery 5:46:28
49. Muhamad Suhaimi Abdul (Mas) Scott Malaysia 6:03:13
50. Julian Kaub (Mas) 6:46:04
51. Khairul Amin Ahmad Riozuan (Mas) Kedah 6:48:49

Women
1. Lea Davison (USA) Team Specialized 9:00:40
2. Elisabeth Sveum (Nor) Norway 0:06:45
3. Janka Stevkova (Svk) Slovakia 0:13:11
4. Nathalie Schneitter (Sui) Colnago Sudtirol 0:20:23
5. Eva Lechner (Ita) Colnago Sudtirol 0:33:53
6. Blaza Klemencic (Slo) Felt Otztal X-Bionic 0:42:04
7. Julia Innerhofer* (Ita) Colnago Sudtirol 1:03:11
8. Jenni King (Aus) Anytime Fitness / Trek 1:26:37
9. Masziyaton Binti Mohd Radzi (Mas) Kedah SBS Giant 1:48:07
10. Junaidah Juss (Mas) Arus 2:44:23
11. Noor Fadilah Saiedin* (Mas) Arus 3:49:38
12. Adinya Sai Samorn (Tha) Chiru Endurace 4:41:43
13. Nurul Suhada Bt Zainal* (Mas) Terengganu 4:45:19
14. Melanie Leveau (Fra) Hora Du Bush 4:51:04
15. Siti Fatimah Binti Ismail* (Mas) Kedah 5:29:05
16. Ain Nurul Huda Rusli (Mas) Chiru Endurace 6:17:40

Masters
1. Nicholas Craig (Gbr) Scott UK 8:13:07
2. Marzio Deho (Ita) Cicli Olympia 0:09:24
3. Anthony White (Gbr) Cannondale Mt Zoom Racing 1:15:19
4. Prasert Chitmart (Tha) Endurace Phuket Beach Boy 1:50:13
5. Vanni Balboni (Ita) Green Devils Team 2:26:49
6. Gregory John Dick (Nzl) Malborough Mountainbike Clu 2:33:47
7. Takuma Dan (Jpn) Club 3719 2:56:22
8. Lance Andwew Portman (Aus) Asphar Surveying 3:10:27
9. Loh Ching Soo (Mas) Singapore Five-O 3:40:24
10. Muhamad Razli Ibrahim (Mas) Amaniz Cycling 4:35:21
11. Robert Rowe (Aus) 4:40:36
12. Mohamad Yusof Ilah (Mas) Chiru Endurace 5:22:32
13. Azman Bin Mohd Nor (Mas) Chiru Endurace 6:46:20
14. Ridzuan Bin Abd Rahim (Mas) DTM 7:05:38

Senior Masters Men
1. Hartmut Hofmann (Ger) 11:22:30
2. John Ray Funk (Can) Deadgoat Racing 0:20:04
3. Abdul Razak Kamis (Mas) Kedah 1:29:34
4. Charles H.B Stander (Rsa) Concept Cyclery Specialised 2:10:35
5. Chua Tuan Muar (Mas) Amaniz Cycling 2:17:05
6. Kwan Kah Yong (Mas) Scott Malaysia 2:45:16
7. Zamani Supartin (Mas) Le Tua 3:21:43
8. Frank D Viermann (Ger) P.Pinang 5:08:51
9. Che Mansor B Kamis (Mas) 5:14:25
10. Farizul Latif Zulkipli (Mas) Scott Malaysia 5:18:41