Sofian's gamble pays off big time

PUTRAJAYA, April 8 (Bernama) -- Malaysian National Team rider Sofian Nabil Omar Mohd Bakri took a big gamble by breaking away from the main peloton, but it proved to be the right move as he won all three sprint zones to grab the white jersey for the Best Asian Rider accolade in Stage Three of the 2019 Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) today.

The 26-year-old broke away early into the 192.6 km race from Muar to Putrajaya with South Korea’s Kwon Soonyeong (KPSO Bianchi Asia Pro Cycling) and China’s Shi Hang (Giant Cycling Team), leaving the main peloton trailing in their wake.

Sofian’s well-planned and brilliantly executed breakaway helped him wrest the white jersey from South Korea’s Jihun Kim of team KSPO Bianchi Asia Procycling, although he (Sofian) ended the day in 38th spot after clocking 4 hours, 49 minutes and 45 seconds.

Apart from the white jersey, Sofian who won all three sprint zones in Simpang Ampat, Lubok Cina and Lukut, also earned a nine-second bonus to be placed fourth overall in the quest for the overall title (yellow jersey), which is led by American Travis McCabe of team Floyd’s Pro Cycling.

“I broke away early in the race because there was only a two-second difference between Kim and me, so I wanted to accumulate points. Alhamdulillah, I won all the sprint zones to take the lead and get the white jersey,” he told reporters.

“We wanted to try something in the first two days, but our coach Mohd Yusof Abd Nasir told us to conserve energy and today it proved worthwhile. This success has given me the spirit to face the climb from Shah Alam to Genting Highlands tomorrow.”

McCabe, meanwhile, won Stage Three in 4:49:39s to wrest the yellow jersey from Australian Marcus Culey of Team Sapura Cycling.

Italians Matteo Pelucchi of Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec and Andrea Guardini of Bardiani CSF were 0.02 of a second behind McCabe in second and third places respectively.

Mohd Harrif Saleh of Terengganu Inc-TSG Cycling Team, who won Stage Two yesterday, emerged as the best Malaysian rider after crossing the finishing line in fourth place by clocking the same time as the Italian duo.

“Today’s route was very challenging, quite undulating...I didn’t expect team Floyd’s to break away at the last 2 km. I tried to chase but missed the podium finish,” said Harrif, who won Stage Two from Senawang to Melaka yesterday and promised to continue to challenge for the green jersey (King of Sprint).

“Maybe I will be with the main peloton tomorrow as the climb up Genting is challenging and is more suited to the climbers. I still have many more chances in the fifth, sixth and eighth stages where the route is flatter and less undulating,” said the sprint expert.

Stage Four from Shah Alam to Genting Highlands, with a Hors Class (1,645m) tomorrow, is regarded as the ‘Queen’s Stage’ which could very well decide the winner of the yellow jersey and red jersey (King of the Mountain) in this edition.

-- BERNAMA