Le Tour de Langkawi 2017 – Stage 1 [Highlights]

February 22, 2017

Le Tour de Langkawi 2017 – Stage 1– Kuala Berang – Kuala Terengganu – 124,8 KM

The Tour de Langkawi is a multiple stage bicycle race held in Malaysia. It is named after the archipelago Langkawi, where the first edition started and finished. The race has been held annually since 1996, primarily in the month of February. It usually consists of 10 day-long segments (stages) over 10 days. While the route changes each year, the Genting Highlands climb, the toughest in the tour, is always included. Tour de Langkawi is sanctioned by the International Cycling Union (UCI) as a 2.HC road race in the UCI Asia Tour calendar.

Scott Sunderland started Isowhey Sports Swisswellness debut appearance at the Tour de Langkawi in perfect fashion as he sprinted to stage 1 success. The Australian got the better of Ryan Gibbons (Dimension Data) and Nicolas Marini (Nippo – Vini Fantini) on the long straight in Terengganu.

Having waited the better part of 15 years to secure an invite to Asia’s premier stage race, the script for IsoWhey Sports SwissWellness could hardly have been better written with stage 1 victory and the first race leader’s yellow jersey of the Tour de Langkawi.

Scott Sunderland showed a clean pair of heals in the bunch sprint finish, getting the better of Ryan Gibbons (Dimension Data) by a bike length. Italian Nicolas Marini (Nippo-Vini Fantini) rounded out the podium after a late crash disrupted the fast run into the Kuala Terengganu finale.

“I came in with good form, so it was great to have such strong team presence from IsoWhey Sports SwissWellness and to get the win. Today was a credit to them and it’s great to get the ball rolling,” Sunderland said.

The win is Sunderland’s first at HC level, further confirming his successful transition from keirin and kilo rider on the track to a bunch sprinter. With six sprint-friendly stages to come, Sunderland is hoping he can get on a roll and keep the winning momentum going.

“The objective of winning a stage gives you confidence and belief you can hopefully win another stage and continue on the tour with another stage. That would be fantastic. Obviously, hanging onto the yellow jersey as long as possible as I can would be amazing.”

Sunderland leads Gibbons by four seconds overall but the Dimension Data neo-pro is confident of reversing the result on Thursday’s more challenging 208.1km stage from Jerteh to Gerik.

“I am able to get over smaller climbs so it was important to stay up there on GC and to be lying second now is really important moving forward,” Gibbons told Cyclingnews. “Frankly, the other guys on the podium today aren’t super good over a hill so hopefully it plays in my favour.”

How it unfolded

With no late scratching’s on the morning of the race, the 114-rider strong peloton signed on in Kuala Berang. Once the flag was dropped, riders were quick to try and initiate the day’s main breakaway. A ten-strong group went clear following the first KOM of the day 25km into the 124.8km stage.

Local rider Nur Amirull Fakhruddin Mazuki (Terengganu Cycling Team) took maximum points on the first climb and repeated the trick at the second climb, to book an appointment to the podium post-stage. Following the second categorised climb, the peloton decided to up the tempo and start the chase of the breakaway.

As the gap continued to fall, (Keyi Look Cycling Team), Loh Sea Keong (Thailand) and Bakri Sofian Nabil Mohd (Sapura Cycling Team) attacked their breakaway companions to go clear at the head of the race. Nabil sat up soon after to leave Loh Sea Keong and Ayazbayev at the head of the race while Wilier-Selle Italia set the tempo back in the bunch for its sprinter Jakub Mareczko.

Once in Terengganu, the two riders led through the finish arch for the first of two laps with the peloton just a handful of seconds in arrears. Keong then attacked to go solo, earning the combativity prize, but with 15km it was all together and set up for the bunch sprint finish.

The sprints teams arranged their trains inside 10km to race, with plenty of jostling and repositioning on the fast and technical circuit. The second time through the finish saw several riders try and attack off the front of the peloton but Wilier-Selle Italia and Nippo-Vini Fantini quickly brought them back.

A crash at seven kilometres to go split the peloton into three large groups to complicate the finale but none of the sprint favourites hit the deck.

Once Sunderland decided to open up his sprint in the finale, he proved too fast and too strong in the finale with his rivals fighting over the minor placings.

Results :
1 Scott Sunderland (Aus) Isowhey Sports Swisswellness 2:54:45
2 Ryan Gibbons (RSA) Dimension Data
3 Nicolas Marini (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini
4 Jakub Mareczko (Ita) Wilier Triestina
5 Travis Mccabe (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
6 Marco Benfatto (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
7 Shiki Kuroeda (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team
8 Yevgeniy Gidich (Kaz) Vino – Astana Motors
9 Phuchong Saiudomsin (Tha) Thailand Continental Cycling Team 2:54:49
10 Enrico Barbin (Ita) Bardiani CSF
11 Jacques Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Dimension Data
12 Sergio Andres Higuita (Col) Manzana Postobon
13 Chris Harper (Aus) Isowhey Sports Swisswellness
14 Robbie Hucker (Aus) Isowhey Sports Swisswellness
15 Rafael Andriato (Bra) Wilier Triestina
16 Hideto Nakane (Jpn) Nippo – Vini Fantini
17 Daniel Jaramillo (Col) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
18 Egan Bernal (Col) Androni Giocattoli
19 Riccardo Stacchiotti (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini
20 Fernando Orjuela (Col) Manzana Postobon
21 Bernardo Suaza (Col) Manzana Postobon
22 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Wilier Triestina
23 Anthony Giacoppo (Aus) Isowhey Sports Swisswellness
24 Timothy Roe (Aus) Isowhey Sports Swisswellness
25 Tomohiro Hayakawa (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team
26 Paolo Simion (Ita) Bardiani CSF
27 Dmitriy Lukyanov (Kaz) Vino – Astana Motors
28 Tanner Putt (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
29 Fausto Masnada (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
30 Ivan Ramiro Sosa (Col) Androni Giocattoli
31 Cameron Bayly (Aus) Isowhey Sports Swisswellness
32 Sergey Vlassenko (Kaz) Vino – Astana Motors
33 Alberto Cecchin (Ita) Wilier Triestina
34 Ben O’Connor (Aus) Dimension Data
35 Stepan Astafyev (Kaz) Vino – Astana Motors
36 Giuseppe Fonzi (Ita) Wilier Triestina
37 Jacopo Mosca (Ita) Wilier Triestina 2:55:00
38 Adrien Niyonshuti (Rwa) Dimension Data
39 Mekseb Debesay (Eri) Dimension Data 2:55:03
40 Greg Henderson (NZl) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 2:55:05
41 Ryohei Komori (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team 2:55:08
42 Carlos Alzate (Col) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
43 Sukho Kang (Kor) Kspo Bianchi Asia Procycling 2:55:10
44 Shotaro Watanabe (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team
45 Taras Voropayev (Kaz) Vino – Astana Motors 2:55:12
46 Nick Dougall (RSA) Dimension Data
47 Giacomo Berlato (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini 2:55:21
48 Mohd Zamri Saleh (Mas) Terengganu Cycling Team 2:55:22
49 Lorenzo Rota (Ita) Bardiani CSF
50 Victor Niño Corredor (Col) Team Sapura Cycling 2:55:45
51 Wilmar Jahir Perez Muñoz (Col) Team Sapura Cycling 2:55:48
52 Dadi Suryadi (Ina) Terengganu Cycling Team
53 Marcelo Felipe (Phi) 7 Eleven Roadbike Philippines
54 Haesung Cho (Kor) Kspo Bianchi Asia Procycling 2:55:54
55 Mohd Shahrul Mat Amin (Mas) Terengganu Cycling Team
56 Sungbaek Park (Kor) Kspo Bianchi Asia Procycling
57 Irwandie Lakasek (Mas) Malaysia National Team 2:56:02
58 Aiman Cahyadi (Ina) Sapura Cycling Team
59 Siyu Yang (Chn) Keyi Look Cycling Team
60 Nelson Martin (Phi) 7 Eleven Roadbike Philippines
61 Joonyong Seo (Kor) Kspo Bianchi Asia Procycling
62 Seungwoo Choi (Kor) Kspo Bianchi Asia Procycling
63 Aspan Zhukenov (Kaz) Vino – Astana Motors
64 Penghai Deng (Chn) Giant Cycling Team
65 Jesse James Ewart (Aus) 7 Eleven Roadbike Philippine
66 M. Ameen (Mas) Malaysia National Team
67 Daeyeon Kim (Kor) Kspo Bianchi Asia Procycling
68 Navuti Liphongyu (Tha) Thailand Continental Cycling Team
69 Dominic Perez (Phi) 7 Eleven Roadbike Philippines
70 Khunakorn Nonthichan (Tha) Infinite AIS Cycling Team
71 Nik Mohd Azwan Zulkiflie (Mas) Malaysia National Team
72 Niccolo’ Pacinotti (Ita) Bardiani CSF
73 Kota Sumiyoshi (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team
74 John Kronborg Esben (Den) Infinite AIS Cycling Team
75 M. Afiq Huznie Othman (Mas) Infinite AIS Cycling Team
76 Kritsada Changpad (Tha) Infinite AIS Cycling Team
77 Yecid Arturo Sierra (Col) Manzana Postobon
78 Xin Wang (Chn) Keyi Look Cycling Team
79 Hiroaki Harada (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team
80 Maxat Ayazbayev (Kaz) Keyi Look Cycling Team
81 Nur Amirull Fakhruddin Mazuki (Mas) Terengganu Cycling Team
82 Ying Hon Ronald Yeung (Hkg) Infinite AIS Cycling Team
83 Thurakit Boonratanathanakorn (Tha) Thailand Continental Cycling Team
84 M. Nur Aiman Mohd Zariff (Mas) Malaysia National Team
85 Wilmar Paredes (Col) Manzana Postobon
86 Adrian Hegyvary (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 2:56:15
87 Hang Shi (Chn) Giant Cycling Team 2:56:42
88 Thanawut Sanikwathi (Tha) Thailand Continental Cycling Team 2:57:28
89 Shijin Zhang (Chn) Keyi Look Cycling Team 2:57:38
90 Josh Berry (Aus) 7 Eleven Roadbike Philippines 2:57:55
91 Tanaphon Seanaumnuayphon (Tha) Infinite AIS Cycling Team
92 Akmal Hakim Zakaria (Mas) Team Sapura Cycling 2:58:32
93 Haiwang Liu (Chn) Giant Cycling Team
94 M Ameer Ahmad Kamal (Mas) Malaysia National Team 2:58:51
95 Eiman Firdaus Mohd Zamri (Mas) Malaysia National Team
96 Marino Kobayashi (Jpn) Nippo – Vini Fantini
97 Marco Maronese (Ita) Bardiani CSF
98 Xiang Yuan Li (Chn) Giant Cycling Team
99 En Huang (Chn) Keyi Look Cycling Team
100 Sarawut Sirironnachai (Tha) Thailand Continental Cycling Team
101 Masakazu Ito (Jpn) Nippo – Vini Fantini
102 Zhiwen Chen (Chn) Giant Cycling Team 2:59:55
103 Yahui Shi (Chn) Keyi Look Cycling Team
104 Tianhao Gu (Chn) Giant Cycling Team
105 Sofian Nabil Omar Mohd Bakri (Mas) Team Sapura Cycling 3:00:15
106 Sea Keong Loh (Mas) Thailand Continental Cycling Team
107 Juan Pablo Villegas (Col) Manzana Postobon 3:00:58
108 Andrea Palini (Ita) Androni Giocattoli 3:01:46
109 Mohd Harrif Saleh (Mas) Terengganu Cycling Team
110 Bonjoe Martin (Phi) 7 Eleven Roadbike Philippine7 3:02:02
111 Mohamad Izzat Hilmi Abdul Halil (Mas) Team Sapura Cycling 3:03:10
112 Luca Pacioni (Ita) Androni Giocattoli 3:03:28
113 Anuar Manan (Mas) Terengganu Cycling Team 3:03:40
114 Simone Velasco (Ita) Bardiani CSF 3:08:11

General Classification after Stage 1 :
1 Scott Sunderland (Aus) Isowhey Sports Swisswellness 2:54:35
2 Ryan Gibbons (RSA) Dimension Data 2:54:39
3 Nicolas Marini (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini 2:54:41
4 Jakub Mareczko (Ita) Wilier Triestina 2:54:45
5 Travis Mccabe (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
6 Marco Benfatto (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
7 Shiki Kuroeda (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team
8 Yevgeniy Gidich (Kaz) Vino – Astana Motors
9 Phuchong Saiudomsin (Tha) Thailand Continental Cycling Team 2:54:49
10 Enrico Barbin (Ita) Bardiani CSF
11 Jacques Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) Dimension Data
12 Sergio Andres Higuita (Col) Manzana Postobon
13 Chris Harper (Aus) Isowhey Sports Swisswellness
14 Robbie Hucker (Aus) Isowhey Sports Swisswellness
15 Rafael Andriato (Bra) Wilier Triestina
16 Hideto Nakane (Jpn) Nippo – Vini Fantini
17 Daniel Jaramillo (Col) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
18 Egan Bernal (Col) Androni Giocattoli
19 Riccardo Stacchiotti (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini
20 Fernando Orjuela (Col) Manzana Postobon
21 Bernardo Suaza (Col) Manzana Postobon
22 Filippo Pozzato (Ita) Wilier Triestina
23 Anthony Giacoppo (Aus) Isowhey Sports Swisswellness
24 Timothy Roe (Aus) Isowhey Sports Swisswellness
25 Tomohiro Hayakawa (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team
26 Paolo Simion (Ita) Bardiani CSF
27 Dmitriy Lukyanov (Kaz) Vino – Astana Motors
28 Tanner Putt (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
29 Fausto Masnada (Ita) Androni Giocattoli
30 Ivan Ramiro Sosa (Col) Androni Giocattoli
31 Cameron Bayly (Aus) Isowhey Sports Swisswellness
32 Sergey Vlassenko (Kaz) Vino – Astana Motors
33 Alberto Cecchin (Ita) Wilier Triestina
34 Ben O’Connor (Aus) Dimension Data
35 Stepan Astafyev (Kaz) Vino – Astana Motors
36 Giuseppe Fonzi (Ita) Wilier Triestina
37 Jacopo Mosca (Ita) Wilier Triestina 2:55:00
38 Adrien Niyonshuti (Rwa) Dimension Data
39 Mekseb Debesay (Eri) Dimension Data 2:55:03
40 Greg Henderson (NZl) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 2:55:05
41 Ryohei Komori (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team 2:55:08
42 Carlos Alzate (Col) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team
43 Sukho Kang (Kor) Kspo Bianchi Asia Procycling 2:55:10
44 Shotaro Watanabe (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team
45 Taras Voropayev (Kaz) Vino – Astana Motors 2:55:12
46 Nick Dougall (RSA) Dimension Data
47 Giacomo Berlato (Ita) Nippo – Vini Fantini 2:55:21
48 Lorenzo Rota (Ita) Bardiani CSF
49 Mohd Zamri Saleh (Mas) Terengganu Cycling Teami 2:55:22
50 Victor Niño Corredor (Col) Team Sapura Cycling 2:55:45
51 Marcelo Felipe (Phi) 7 Eleven Roadbike Philippines 2:55:46
52 Wilmar Jahir Perez Muñoz (Col) Team Sapura Cycling 2:55:48
53 Dadi Suryadi (Ina) Terengganu Cycling Team
54 Haesung Cho (Kor) Kspo Bianchi Asia Procycling 2:55:54
55 Mohd Shahrul Mat Amin (Mas) Terengganu Cycling Tea
56 Sungbaek Park (Kor) Kspo Bianchi Asia Procycling
57 Maxat Ayazbayev (Kaz) Keyi Look Cycling Team 2:55:56
58 Nur Amirull Fakhruddin Mazuki (Mas) Terengganu Cycling Team 2:55:59
59 Irwandie Lakasek (Mas) Malaysia National Team 2:56:02
60 Aiman Cahyadi (Ina) Sapura Cycling Team
61 Siyu Yang (Chn) Keyi Look Cycling Team
62 Nelson Martin (Phi) 7 Eleven Roadbike Philippines
63 Joonyong Seo (Kor) Kspo Bianchi Asia Procycling
64 Seungwoo Choi (Kor) Kspo Bianchi Asia Procycling
65 Aspan Zhukenov (Kaz) Vino – Astana Motors
66 Penghai Deng (Chn) Giant Cycling Team
67 Jesse James Ewart (Aus) 7 Eleven Roadbike Philippine
68 M. Ameen (Mas) Malaysia National Team
69 Daeyeon Kim (Kor) Kspo Bianchi Asia Procycling
70 Navuti Liphongyu (Tha) Thailand Continental Cycling Team
71 Dominic Perez (Phi) 7 Eleven Roadbike Philippines
72 Khunakorn Nonthichan (Tha) Infinite AIS Cycling Team
73 Nik Mohd Azwan Zulkiflie (Mas) Malaysia National Team
74 Niccolo’ Pacinotti (Ita) Bardiani CSF
75 Kota Sumiyoshi (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team
76 John Kronborg Esben (Den) Infinite AIS Cycling Team
77 M. Afiq Huznie Othman (Mas) Infinite AIS Cycling Team
78 Kritsada Changpad (Tha) Infinite AIS Cycling Team
79 Yecid Arturo Sierra (Col) Manzana Postobon
80 Xin Wang (Chn) Keyi Look Cycling Team
81 Hiroaki Harada (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team
82 Ying Hon Ronald Yeung (Hkg) Infinite AIS Cycling Team
83 Thurakit Boonratanathanakorn (Tha) Thailand Continental Cycling Team
84 M. Nur Aiman Mohd Zariff (Mas) Malaysia National Team
85 Wilmar Paredes (Col) Manzana Postobon
86 Adrian Hegyvary (USA) UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team 2:56:15
87 Hang Shi (Chn) Giant Cycling Team 2:56:42
88 Thanawut Sanikwathi (Tha) Thailand Continental Cycling Team 2:57:28
89 Shijin Zhang (Chn) Keyi Look Cycling Team 2:57:38
90 Josh Berry (Aus) 7 Eleven Roadbike Philippines 2:57:55
91 Tanaphon Seanaumnuayphon (Tha) Infinite AIS Cycling Team
92 Akmal Hakim Zakaria (Mas) Team Sapura Cycling 2:58:32
93 Haiwang Liu (Chn) Giant Cycling Team
94 M Ameer Ahmad Kamal (Mas) Malaysia National Team 2:58:51
95 Eiman Firdaus Mohd Zamri (Mas) Malaysia National Team
96 Marino Kobayashi (Jpn) Nippo – Vini Fantini
97 Marco Maronese (Ita) Bardiani CSF
98 Xiang Yuan Li (Chn) Giant Cycling Team
99 En Huang (Chn) Keyi Look Cycling Team
100 Sarawut Sirironnachai (Tha) Thailand Continental Cycling Team
101 Masakazu Ito (Jpn) Nippo – Vini Fantini
102 Zhiwen Chen (Chn) Giant Cycling Team 2:59:55
103 Yahui Shi (Chn) Keyi Look Cycling Team
104 Tianhao Gu (Chn) Giant Cycling Team
105 Sofian Nabil Omar Mohd Bakri (Mas) Team Sapura Cycling 3:00:12
106 Sea Keong Loh (Mas) Thailand Continental Cycling Team
107 Juan Pablo Villegas (Col) Manzana Postobon 3:00:58
108 Andrea Palini (Ita) Androni Giocattoli 3:01:46
109 Mohd Harrif Saleh (Mas) Terengganu Cycling Team
110 Bonjoe Martin (Phi) 7 Eleven Roadbike Philippine7 3:02:02
111 Mohamad Izzat Hilmi Abdul Halil (Mas) Team Sapura Cycling 3:03:10
112 Luca Pacioni (Ita) Androni Giocattoli 3:03:28
113 Anuar Manan (Mas) Terengganu Cycling Team 3:03:40
114 Simone Velasco (Ita) Bardiani CSF 3:08:11