Tour de Langkawi (and Asia tour) Thread *SPOILERS*

[Flying_Monkey]

Quite a strong startlist for this year's Tour de Langkawi now it's 2.HC. Of course if the UCI was more concerned with interest in cycling and less in money, it would already be on the World Tour circuit, but apparently Qatar and the ridiculous failed Hainan project are more important...

Anyway, I always enjoy Langkawai. I thought we might also keep this thread as one dedicated to the Asia Tour, since there probably won't be a huge demand for individual threads on Asian races (probably just me, in fact... )

 

[Noodley]

I thnk "quite a strong startlist" might be stretching it a wee bit.

 

[rich p]

There's a relative few 'names' there some of whom must be wondering, "why me?"
It had the potential to be a really good race once, and I recall Tom Danielson winning it many moons ago as a young up and coming rider. Whatever happened to him, I wonder?

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Stage 1, a flat, sprinter's stage: Bos, Coquard, Guardini.

 

[smutchin]

Bos again. Is he looking strong, or is it a reflection of the quality of the field? He certainly looks like a proper roadie now at least.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Well, he's beating Guardini and Kruopis as well as younger talent like Coquard and Fenn, so it's not a bad sprint field, but certainly nowhere near the best. he won't win tomorrow though - first moutaintop finish.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

An amazing first win for Meiyin Wang of the tiny Hengxiang team today, 2.27 over Julian Arredondo and Nathan Haas.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

The evil Genting Highlands climb saw yesterday's second place, Arredondo, take the stage and leap into the lead - Wang couldn't manage a second day of heroics. Peter Weening was second and another Colombian, Victor Nino, third.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Torrential rain on stage 6 means a successful breakaway win for Tom Leezer of Blanco, with Ji Min Jung and Michal Golas 2nd and 3rd. The lead remains with Arredondo, although he struggled to finish with the main group.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Straight up spring on Stage 7: Guardini, Chicchi, Kruopis. Unfortunately for Bos he got ill and couldn't get over the mountains, so he isn't around to fight for these ones.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

First time for Andy Fenn on the podium today after lots of fifth places - but 2nd to rising star, Bryan Coquard. Chicchi was third.

 

[raindog]

Coquard really does seem to be the real deal doesn't he? Especially when you consider this is his first pro season - exceptional stuff.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

Coquard really does seem to be the real deal doesn't he? Especially when you consider this is his first pro season - exceptional stuff.

Yep, and he won again today - beating Chicchi and Davis. Mind you, he has less competition - Kruopis crashed out yesterday and Guardini, along with a load of others, came down with food poisoning.

 

[raindog]

Well, obviously he's not been up against big names yet anyway, but I just find it so promising that he's winning straight out of the box, so to speak.

 

[Flying_Monkey]

The final stage was taken by Chicchi with Coquard nowhere to be seen - not sure why yet. Arredondo duly won the the overall.