Sprick springs surprise win
in stage one
9/2/2008
KUALA LUMPUR (9 Feb, 2008) –
Frenchman Matthieu Sprick sprang a stunning surprise when he swept
past the big names at the Le Tour de Langkawi 2008 to claim Stage
One of Asia’s biggest road race from Alor Star to Kepala
Batas here today.
Despite the scorching heat, the Bouygues
Telekom rider, who was part of a 19-rider breakaway group from
25km out of Alor Star, stepped up the pace two kilometers from
the finish in Kepala Batas. The others, done in by the flat but
grueling 182.6km long stage, failed to follow Sprick and finished
almost three seconds behind.
Sprick sensationally crossed the line in
4 hours 10 minutes and 55 seconds while Aussie Mitchell Docker
and Italian Diego Nosotti were second and third respectively.
“I am very satisfied with the first
day of racing considering that it was my first race of the year.
I hope this streak will continue,” said Sprick, who was
awarded the prestigious leader’s yellow jersey.
“I am very happy to be in Malaysia
because I’ve heard a lot of good things about Le Tour de
Langkawi and I must admit that I was very surprised with the quality
of this event. I am especially with my form today. It will be
hard to defend the Yellow Jersey tomorrow as there are a lot of
good riders in this tour.”
Sprick’s shocking win this afternoon,
will surely put the pressure on the likes of world-class sprinters
Danilo Hondo (Serramenti PVC), Ruben Biongiorno (CSF Navigare)
and last year’s five-stage winner Alberto Loddo (Tinkoff
Credit Systems).
Shinichi Fukushima (Meitan Hompo GDR) was
the catalyst in a three-man breakaway early at the start. They
were soon followed by Jean-Marc Marino (Credit Agricole), Ruslan
Ivanov (Serramenti PVC) and Jackson Rodriguez (Serramenti PVC)
and the pack eventually grew to 19 riders which remained together
to the end.
Along the way, Matt Wilson (Team Type 1)
bagged the first two sprints while Shinichi the third. The third
sprint win turned out to be crucial for it helped Shinichi, older
brother of Koji, take the Asian riders’ Blue Jersey.
“I felt good at the beginning and
attacked early,” added Shinichi. “I was not thinking
of the Asian jersey although I must admit that now that the attention
is on me, it will be hard to go for stage win.”
The last five kilometers saw team Tinkoff
working hard before Sprick made it all his own with two kilometers
left.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the race today
– it is picturesque just like it is back home in Australia,”
added Docker, who will start in the sprinter’s Green Jersey
tomorrow in Stage 2 from Butterworth to Sitiawan. “I think
tomorrow will be another aggressive day, so the focus will be
on the Green Jersey for the moment.”
Meanwhile, the best placed Malaysian finisher
was national team cyclist Mohd Rauf Nur Misbah who came in a creditable
20th overall.
Today’s start was attended by Minister
of Youth and Sports, Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said and Kedah
Mentri Besar, Datuk Mahdzir Khalid while Perlis Mentri Besar,
Datuk Seri Shahidan Kasim graced the first sprint in Kangar.
Stage 2 will be flagged off in Butterworth
at 12.40 in the afternoon and will end 159.7km later in Sitiawan.
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