Photo ©dik.id (Facebook Tour de Singkarak)
For the first time after seven stages, there is a Malaysian on the podium at the Tour de Singkarak in Indonesia.
Akmal Hakim Zakaria of Team Sapura Cycling finished second behind Iranian Mohammad Ganjkhanlou of the Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan team in the 82.9km stage from Kayu Aro to Kerinci.
A cluster of seven riders were timed at 1:50:06 in the shortest of the nine stage competition.
Akmal’s teammate and defending champion Jesse Ewart finished third to keep the yellow jersey. Ewart leads the overall standings after seven stages with a 1:04 advantage over another Team Sapura Cycling rider Cristian Raileanu.
Iranian Mirsamad Pourseyedi of Omidnia Mashhad Team, is third overall, 3:24 behind the two Team Sapura Cycling riders.
Despite his stage win, Mohammad is a massive 58:02 behind Ewart in the overall standings while Zakaria further down, 1:22:05 behind the leader.
Ewart, who hails from Australia, and Moldavian Cristian Raileanu are heading the Best Sprinter Category. Ewart is the owner of the green jersey with 67 points while Raileanu is second with 47 points, just five points ahead of Indonesian Bambang Suryadi of the PGN Road Cyling Team.
Team Sapura Cycling are on course to take the overall team title with a 6:03 advantage over PGN Road Cycling Team. After seven stages they have an accumulated time of 80:22:47, 8:15 ahead of third placed Team Go for Gold of the Philippines.
The only category not dominated by the Malaysian outfit is the race for the red polka dot jersey in the Best Climber category.
Filipino riders Grospe Ismael Jr of Team Go for Gold and Felipe Marcelo of the Roadbike Philippines are atop the standings with 66 and 63 points respectively. Indonesian Abdurrahman Muhammad of the KFC Cycling Team is in third spot with 47 points.
Stage 8 of the Tour de Singkarak will be the second longest route taking the riders from Sungai Penuh to Pesisir Selatan, a distance of 212.9km.
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