Race Report

A solo push inside the final five kilometres from a group of 16 initial breakaway riders gave Blanco Pro Cycling’s Thomas Leezer a deserved victory in Stage 6, Le Tour de Langkawi 2013′s longest stage from Mentakab to Kuantan today.

Leezer, 27, who hails from The Hague in the Netherlands and joined the Blanco team previously known as Rabobank in 2008, broke away from the lead group to cross the finish line alone in 4 hours 33 minutes and 42 seconds.

He finished 27 seconds ahead of South Korea’s Jung Ji Min of KSPO and 35 seconds ahead of Michal Golas (Omega Pharma-Quickstep) while another breakaway member Jackson Rodriguez (Androni Giocattoli) barely managed to stay ahead of a surging peloton to win the bunch sprint for fourth place ahead of Astana’s Andrea Guardini, the holder of the blue jersey for the points classification lead.

The result of the day did not affect the overall lead of Team Nippo-De Rosa’s Julian David Arredondo of Colombia, while Hengxiang’s Wang Meiyin’s Asian riders’ classification lead also remained intact.

Meiyin however regained the Genting red jersey as the leader of the mountains classification which he lost to Arredondo by a point on Monday’s Genting Highlands stage, after he managed to win the category 4 mountains hot spot in Sungai Piul.

Leezer’s victory meant the Blanco team made it three victories so far in their LTdL debut, although the day started with news that their top sprinter Theo Bos had pulled out of the race after struggling with flu te past two days.

It was the Blanco team’s 10th victory this season and a sweet one for Leezer who had only recently returned to competitive cycling after recovering from a broken shoulder and vertibrae suffered following a crash during a bunch sprint in a race in Belgium last year.

“I think I must have tried 30 or 40 times to breakaway during this stage and thankfully the last one was a good one. It was a different kind of experience, but a happy one.

“I’m very happy with this win, especially for our team. We have been racing really well as we all need to prove ourselves as we lost our main sponsor (Rabobank) last year, so this drives the team forward,” said Leezer.

“I’m also relieved with this win. Actually I thought I was lucky to be here to start this race, but now I’ve shown that I can also be competitive.”

Today’s stage, of which the final 50 kilometres were run under heavy torrential rain, saw multiple breakaway attempts right from the beginning.

Malaysia’s Anuar Manan of the Synergy-Baku Cycling Project moved up to second in the points classification behind Guardini after taking first place in the first intermediate sprint of the day then finishing 10th.

Stage 7 tomorrow moves into Terengganu with a 146.5 kilometre route from Kuantan to Dungun, where the sprinters are expected to take centrestage.

Race Results

Le Tour de Langkawi (2013) - Stage 6

Mentakab to Kuantan (218km)
26 Feb 2013
Stage 10  |  Stage 9  |  Stage 8  |  Stage 7  |  Stage 6  |  Stage 5  |  Stage 4  |  Stage 3  |  Stage 3  |  Stage 2  |  Stage 1


Stage
Position Name Nationality Team Time
1 LEEZER, Thomas NED Blanco 4:33:42
2 JUNG, Ji Min KOR KSPO 27
3 GOLAS, Michal POL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP 35
4 RODRIGUEZ, Jackson VEN ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI
5 MEYER, Travis AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE
6 GUARDINI, Andrea ITA ASTANA 40
7 DAVIS, Allan AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE
8 KEOUGH, Jacobe USA UNITEDHEALTHCARE
9 SALLEH, Hariff MAS TERENGGANU
10 MANAN, Anuar MYS Synergy Baku Cycling Project
11 ROGERS, Dene NZL Synergy Baku Cycling Project
12 NISHITANI, Taiji JPN AISAN RACING TEAM
13 NATEGHI, Hossein IRI TABRIZ PETROCHEMICAL TEAM
14 MORI, Kazuhiro JPN AISAN RACING TEAM
15 BERTAZZO, Omar ITA ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI
16 FUKUDA, Shinpei JPN AISAN RACING TEAM
17 TLEUBAYEV, Ruslan KAZ ASTANA
18 FENN, Andrew GBR OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
19 SCHNAIDT, Fabian DEU CHAMPION SYSTEM
20 OTHMAN, Muhamad Adiq Husainie MYS CHAMPION SYSTEM
21 WEENING, Pieter NED ORICA-GREENEDGE
22 M. Nor Rizuan, Zainal MYS Malaysia National Team
23 HAAS, Nathan AUS Garmin-Sharp
24 ILESIC, Aldo Ino SLO UNITEDHEALTHCARE
25 FERNANDEZ, Koldo ESP Garmin-Sharp
26 zulhilmie afif AHMAD ZAMRI, Muhammad MYS Malaysia National Team
27 KRUOPIS, Aidis LTU ORICA-GREENEDGE
28 ARASHIRO, Yukiya JPN TEAM EUROPCAR 46
29 Jae JANG, Sun KOR RTS RACING TEAM
30 SOHRABI, Mehdi IRI TABRIZ PETROCHEMICAL TEAM
31 SEO, Joon Yong KOR KSPO
32 STETINA, Peter USA Garmin-Sharp
33 PARDILLA BELLON, Sergio ESP MTN QHUBEKA
34 PAUWELS, Serge BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
35 CELIS ZABALA, Vidal ESP RTS RACING TEAM
36 GAZVODA, Gregor SLO CHAMPION SYSTEM
37 MCCONVEY, Connor IRL Synergy Baku Cycling Project
38 WANG, Meiyin CHN HENGXIANG
39 SULZBERGER, Wesley AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE
40 GAUTIER, Cyril FRA TEAM EUROPCAR
41 David ARREDONDO MORENO, Julian COL TEAM NIPPO
42 DYACHENKO, Alexsandr KAZ ASTANA
43 VON HOFF, Steele AUS Garmin-Sharp
44 CAHYADI, Aiman IDN Indonesia National Team
45 COQUARD, Bryan FRA TEAM EUROPCAR
46 WIJAYA, Endra IDN Indonesia National Team
47 BROWN, Graeme AUS Blanco
48 ITO, Masakazu JPN AISAN RACING TEAM
49 CHICCHI, Francesco ITA FARNESE VINI
50 CRAVEN, Dan NAM Synergy Baku Cycling Project
51 EBSEN, John Bohn DEN Synergy Baku Cycling Project
52 MAT SENAN, Mohammad Saufi MAS TERENGGANU
53 MONSALVE, Jonathan VEN FARNESE VINI
54 SAFARZADEH, Saeid IRI TABRIZ PETROCHEMICAL TEAM
55 GRABSCH, Bert GER OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
56 SANO, Junya JPN FARNESE VINI
57 FACCHINI, Patrick ITA ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI
58 BALIANI, Fortunato ITA TEAM NIPPO
59 MANULANG, Robin IDN Indonesia National Team
60 Azis MUHD SHAIFUL, Anwar AFG TERENGGANU
61 Aurelio GIL MARTINEZ, Tomas VEN ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI
62 MIZBANI IRANAGH, Ghader IRI TABRIZ PETROCHEMICAL TEAM
63 RUSLI, Amir Mustafa MYS Malaysia National Team
64 POZDNYAKOV, Kiryll RUS Synergy Baku Cycling Project
65 OCHOA, Carlos José VEN ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI
66 BOL, Jetse NED Blanco
67 MAT AMIN, Mohd Shahrul MAS TERENGGANU
68 USOFF, Yusrizal MAS Malaysia National Team
69 VAN EMDEN, Jos NED Blanco
70 NAKAJIMA, Yasuharu JPN AISAN RACING TEAM
71 Fauzan AHMAD LUTFI, Mohd MYS Malaysia National Team
72 GOOS, Marc NED Blanco
73 KASHECHKIN, Andrey KAZ ASTANA
74 DURBRIDGE, Luke AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE
75 KOLAHDOZHAGH, Amir IRN TABRIZ PETROCHEMICAL TEAM 59
76 FITRIANTO, Hari IDN Indonesia National Team
77 KREDER, Raymond NED Garmin-Sharp
78 YEON JE, Sung KOR KSPO
79 RUSSAN, Meran ERI MTN QHUBEKA
80 BUTLER, Chris USA CHAMPION SYSTEM
81 GRMAY, Tsgabu Gebremaryam ETH MTN QHUBEKA
82 DESTRIBOIS, Alex FRA RTS RACING TEAM
83 LIU, Jianpeng CHN HENGXIANG
84 BEYER, Chad USA CHAMPION SYSTEM
85 SAI-UDOMSIL, Phuchong THA OCBC SINGAPORE
86 ROSA, Diego ITA ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI
87 Rauf Nur NISBAH, Mohd MYS Malaysia National Team
88 XING, Fu CHN HENGXIANG
89 NINO CORREDOR, Victor COL RTS RACING TEAM
90 ROLLAND, Pierre FRA TEAM EUROPCAR
91 KWON, Soon Young KOR KSPO
92 JANSE VAN RENSBURG, Jacques RSA MTN QHUBEKA +1:04
93 EUSER, Lucas USA UNITEDHEALTHCARE
94 VAN NIEKERK, Dennis RSA MTN QHUBEKA
95 NG, Yong Li MAS RTS RACING TEAM
96 LOW, Ji Wen SIN OCBC SINGAPORE
97 SURYADI, Dadi IDN Indonesia National Team
98 VERONA QUINTANILLA, Carlos ESP OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
99 Woo CHOI, Seung KOR KSPO
100 BAZAYEV, Assan KAZ ASTANA
101 ROSDI, Mohd Nor Umardi MAS TERENGGANU
102 Zamri SALEH, Mohd MYS TERENGGANU
103 LUTSENKO, Alexey KAZ ASTANA
104 ABDULLAH, Fatahilah IDN Indonesia National Team
105 FAIRLY, Caleb USA Garmin-Sharp
106 PARK, Sung Baek KOR KSPO
107 MERLO, Michele ITA FARNESE VINI +1:12
108 Keong LOH, Sea MYS OCBC SINGAPORE +1:14
109 SERRY, Pieter BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP
110 MURPHY, John USA UNITEDHEALTHCARE +1:23
111 AYABE, Takeaki JPN AISAN RACING TEAM +1:25
112 PUJOL MUNOZ, Oscar ESP RTS RACING TEAM
113 LIU, Yilin CHN HENGXIANG +1:55
114 LI, Fuyu CHN HENGXIANG
115 WANG, Bo CHN HENGXIANG
116 QUÉMENEUR, Perrig FRA TEAM EUROPCAR +2:12
117 CLARKE, Jonathan AUS UNITEDHEALTHCARE +2:14
118 TEWELDE WELDEGABER, Jani ERI MTN QHUBEKA +2:19
119 REZA, Kévin FRA TEAM EUROPCAR +2:23
120 LEWIS, Craig USA CHAMPION SYSTEM
121 BORCHI, Stefano ITA FARNESE VINI
122 RABOU, Thomas NED OCBC SINGAPORE +2:29
123 FUKUSHIMA, Shinichi JPN TEAM NIPPO +3:39
124 RICHEZE, Mauro Abel ARG TEAM NIPPO +4:43
125 TOKUDA, Tanzou JPN TEAM NIPPO +13:29
126 ISHIBASHI, Manabu AFG TEAM NIPPO
127 DE NEGRI, Pier Paolo ITA FARNESE VINI DNF
128 GOH, Choon Huat SIN OCBC SINGAPORE DNF
129 HO, Junrong SIN OCBC SINGAPORE DNF
130 BOS, Theo NED Blanco DNF

General Classification
Position Name Nationality Team Time
1 David ARREDONDO MORENO, Julian COL TEAM NIPPO 22:17:48
2 WEENING, Pieter NED ORICA-GREENEDGE +1:16
3 PARDILLA BELLON, Sergio ESP MTN QHUBEKA +2:10
4 STETINA, Peter USA Garmin-Sharp +2:32
5 WANG, Meiyin CHN HENGXIANG +2:40
6 HAAS, Nathan AUS Garmin-Sharp +2:48
7 BALIANI, Fortunato ITA TEAM NIPPO +2:49
8 EBSEN, John Bohn DEN Synergy Baku Cycling Project +2:55
9 GRMAY, Tsgabu Gebremaryam ETH MTN QHUBEKA +2:58
10 KOLAHDOZHAGH, Amir IRN TABRIZ PETROCHEMICAL TEAM
11 NINO CORREDOR, Victor COL RTS RACING TEAM +3:19
12 MONSALVE, Jonathan VEN FARNESE VINI +3:31
13 MIZBANI IRANAGH, Ghader IRI TABRIZ PETROCHEMICAL TEAM +3:38
14 JANSE VAN RENSBURG, Jacques RSA MTN QHUBEKA +3:58
15 ROLLAND, Pierre FRA TEAM EUROPCAR +4:03
16 DYACHENKO, Alexsandr KAZ ASTANA +4:24
17 PAUWELS, Serge BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +4:34
18 Aurelio GIL MARTINEZ, Tomas VEN ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI +4:38
19 EUSER, Lucas USA UNITEDHEALTHCARE +5:24
20 RODRIGUEZ, Jackson VEN ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI +5:38
21 SULZBERGER, Wesley AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE +6:11
22 KASHECHKIN, Andrey KAZ ASTANA +7:06
23 BUTLER, Chris USA CHAMPION SYSTEM +8:44
24 POZDNYAKOV, Kiryll RUS Synergy Baku Cycling Project +9:13
25 VAN NIEKERK, Dennis RSA MTN QHUBEKA +10:53
26 ARASHIRO, Yukiya JPN TEAM EUROPCAR +11:09
27 GAUTIER, Cyril FRA TEAM EUROPCAR +11:55
28 MCCONVEY, Connor IRL Synergy Baku Cycling Project +12:02
29 GOOS, Marc NED Blanco +12:06
30 OTHMAN, Muhamad Adiq Husainie MYS CHAMPION SYSTEM +12:09
31 TEWELDE WELDEGABER, Jani ERI MTN QHUBEKA +12:15
32 BEYER, Chad USA CHAMPION SYSTEM +12:28
33 VERONA QUINTANILLA, Carlos ESP OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +12:32
34 DESTRIBOIS, Alex FRA RTS RACING TEAM +12:58
35 FACCHINI, Patrick ITA ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI +13:35
36 XING, Fu CHN HENGXIANG +13:54
37 MAT SENAN, Mohammad Saufi MAS TERENGGANU +14:17
38 BAZAYEV, Assan KAZ ASTANA +14:26
39 FITRIANTO, Hari IDN Indonesia National Team +14:36
40 SAFARZADEH, Saeid IRI TABRIZ PETROCHEMICAL TEAM +14:50
41 ROSA, Diego ITA ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI +16:15
42 ITO, Masakazu JPN AISAN RACING TEAM +16:16
43 LIU, Jianpeng CHN HENGXIANG +16:31
44 Fauzan AHMAD LUTFI, Mohd MYS Malaysia National Team +17:21
45 MAT AMIN, Mohd Shahrul MAS TERENGGANU +17:25
46 KWON, Soon Young KOR KSPO +17:31
47 Rauf Nur NISBAH, Mohd MYS Malaysia National Team +17:57
48 SURYADI, Dadi IDN Indonesia National Team +18:27
49 NAKAJIMA, Yasuharu JPN AISAN RACING TEAM +18:34
50 RUSLI, Amir Mustafa MYS Malaysia National Team +18:51
51 CAHYADI, Aiman IDN Indonesia National Team +19:46
52 SAI-UDOMSIL, Phuchong THA OCBC SINGAPORE +19:55
53 GRABSCH, Bert GER OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +20:29
54 WIJAYA, Endra IDN Indonesia National Team +21:21
55 GAZVODA, Gregor SLO CHAMPION SYSTEM +21:43
56 JUNG, Ji Min KOR KSPO +21:55
57 MANULANG, Robin IDN Indonesia National Team +23:28
58 DURBRIDGE, Luke AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE +24:11
59 SERRY, Pieter BEL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +24:42
60 TLEUBAYEV, Ruslan KAZ ASTANA +24:46
61 Woo CHOI, Seung KOR KSPO
62 RUSSAN, Meran ERI MTN QHUBEKA +25:47
63 PARK, Sung Baek KOR KSPO +25:55
64 NISHITANI, Taiji JPN AISAN RACING TEAM +25:56
65 LEWIS, Craig USA CHAMPION SYSTEM +27:34
66 GOLAS, Michal POL OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +29:14
67 PUJOL MUNOZ, Oscar ESP RTS RACING TEAM +29:39
68 QUÉMENEUR, Perrig FRA TEAM EUROPCAR +31:14
69 OCHOA, Carlos José VEN ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI +32:07
70 RABOU, Thomas NED OCBC SINGAPORE +33:14
71 CLARKE, Jonathan AUS UNITEDHEALTHCARE +33:50
72 FAIRLY, Caleb USA Garmin-Sharp +34:20
73 NG, Yong Li MAS RTS RACING TEAM +34:25
74 MEYER, Travis AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE +35:06
75 FUKUSHIMA, Shinichi JPN TEAM NIPPO +35:26
76 VON HOFF, Steele AUS Garmin-Sharp +35:28
77 SEO, Joon Yong KOR KSPO +35:45
78 Keong LOH, Sea MYS OCBC SINGAPORE +36:14
79 USOFF, Yusrizal MAS Malaysia National Team +36:51
80 LIU, Yilin CHN HENGXIANG +36:59
81 Azis MUHD SHAIFUL, Anwar AFG TERENGGANU +37:07
82 LI, Fuyu CHN HENGXIANG +37:10
83 ROSDI, Mohd Nor Umardi MAS TERENGGANU +37:25
84 KRUOPIS, Aidis LTU ORICA-GREENEDGE +38:00
85 COQUARD, Bryan FRA TEAM EUROPCAR +38:10
86 SANO, Junya JPN FARNESE VINI +38:14
87 LEEZER, Thomas NED Blanco +38:31
88 ISHIBASHI, Manabu AFG TEAM NIPPO +38:56
89 LUTSENKO, Alexey KAZ ASTANA +39:09
90 YEON JE, Sung KOR KSPO +39:12
91 M. Nor Rizuan, Zainal MYS Malaysia National Team +39:42
92 LOW, Ji Wen SIN OCBC SINGAPORE +40:04
93 BORCHI, Stefano ITA FARNESE VINI +40:35
94 CRAVEN, Dan NAM Synergy Baku Cycling Project +40:58
95 FERNANDEZ, Koldo ESP Garmin-Sharp +41:56
96 REZA, Kévin FRA TEAM EUROPCAR +42:35
97 FENN, Andrew GBR OMEGA PHARMA-QUICKSTEP +43:53
98 BERTAZZO, Omar ITA ANDRONI GIOCATTOLI +43:56
99 BOL, Jetse NED Blanco +44:22
100 Jae JANG, Sun KOR RTS RACING TEAM +44:42
101 MANAN, Anuar MYS Synergy Baku Cycling Project +46:26
102 GUARDINI, Andrea ITA ASTANA +46:40
103 MURPHY, John USA UNITEDHEALTHCARE +46:42
104 NATEGHI, Hossein IRI TABRIZ PETROCHEMICAL TEAM +46:49
105 ROGERS, Dene NZL Synergy Baku Cycling Project
106 CELIS ZABALA, Vidal ESP RTS RACING TEAM +46:55
107 SOHRABI, Mehdi IRI TABRIZ PETROCHEMICAL TEAM
108 SALLEH, Hariff MAS TERENGGANU +47:12
109 zulhilmie afif AHMAD ZAMRI, Muhammad MYS Malaysia National Team +47:18
110 Zamri SALEH, Mohd MYS TERENGGANU +47:49
111 DAVIS, Allan AUS ORICA-GREENEDGE +48:11
112 CHICCHI, Francesco ITA FARNESE VINI +49:16
113 ILESIC, Aldo Ino SLO UNITEDHEALTHCARE +49:20
114 MORI, Kazuhiro JPN AISAN RACING TEAM
115 FUKUDA, Shinpei JPN AISAN RACING TEAM
116 KEOUGH, Jacobe USA UNITEDHEALTHCARE
117 ABDULLAH, Fatahilah IDN Indonesia National Team +49:43
118 MERLO, Michele ITA FARNESE VINI +49:52
119 VAN EMDEN, Jos NED Blanco +49:57
120 KREDER, Raymond NED Garmin-Sharp +50:03
121 SCHNAIDT, Fabian DEU CHAMPION SYSTEM +50:29
122 BROWN, Graeme AUS Blanco +50:37
123 WANG, Bo CHN HENGXIANG +51:14
124 TOKUDA, Tanzou JPN TEAM NIPPO +51:34
125 RICHEZE, Mauro Abel ARG TEAM NIPPO +53:23
126 AYABE, Takeaki JPN AISAN RACING TEAM +53:42

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