Cycling: Nor Rizuan finishes third
July 10th, 2007
TWO podium finishes and a strong fight for the top sprinter’s green jersey in the Tour of East Java which ended in Surabaya, Indonesia yesterday have the Le Tua Cycling Team thinking of bigger things.
It was 23-year-old Nor Rizuan Zainal (pic) who this time shouldered the responsibility as Le Tua’s main man in the hilly stage race, in which they have usually struggled.
Nor Rizuan grabbed a third place finish in the bunch sprint that ended the gruelling 232km Stage Four from Magetan to Grisik on Saturday, when he held on to the green jersey.
South Korea’s Park Sung Baek of the Seoul City Team took the green jersey back on the final day yesterday, leaving Nor Rizuan in second, while national rider Suhardi Hassan was third in the points classification.
Jelajah Malaysia points classification winner Anuar Manan got another podium finish for Le Tua, when he came third in the final stage yesterday.
“The boys were trying everyday. It was a tough race with long stages, and that showed on the final day (yesterday) when some teams lost all their riders,” said Le Tua coach Johari Nayan.
Four Malaysian teams competed in the Tour, with Le Tua the best performing.
The national team managed a mid-table finish in the team classification but apart from that did not create any impact.
The Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) and Selangor teams also contested the race. The Selangor team of young riders found it too tough and failed to complete the Tour as a team.
By : Arnaz M. Khairul - New Straits Times - Persekutuan,Malaysia
Entry Filed under: East Java News
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