Travis McCabe of UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team is the winner of Le Tour de Langkawi stage 2.
A total of 114 riders embarked on the Stage 2 of the race from Jerteh to Gerik at 10.15 am this morning, covering a distance 208 km.
This race marks the third time for Le Tour de Langkawi to have a stage finish in Gerik. The Jerteh-Gerik route is also the longest stage at the Tour de Langkawi.
The distinctive jersey wearers earlier today were Shiki Kuroeda (white – Best Young Rider), Mazuki (polka dots – King of the Mountains), Ryan Gibbons (teal – Points Classification), and Scott Sunderland (yellow – winner).
Stage 2 of the race started out in a very intense fashion. The peloton was still together at very high speed after 35 km of racing. It was only at km 39 that 14 riders started going clear off the peloton. Within an hour of racing, the peloton has already covered an impressive 49 km.
Second place winner of Stage 1 Ryan Gibbons won Sprint 1 today, before giving in to Cecchin who won both Sprint 2 and 3.
At 150 km, John Ebsen was 2.30 ahead of the peloton, and he remained ahead as the remaining riders tried to catch up to him. Yellow jersey holder Scott Sunderland failed to keep up and defend his jersey as he was 11 minutes behind the leading quartet; Putt, Pacinotti, Ebsen and Kim at 168 km.
Down to the last 15 km, a total of 50 riders sprinted at high speed to make the finish line, and there was no more breakaway.
Eventually, it was Travis McCabe who edged out Filippo Pozzato and Ryan Gibbons to emerge victorious in Gerik and claim his yellow jersey for stage 2. McCabe finished 5th at stage 1 yesterday.
Meanwhile, Ebsen stripped Malaysia’s Mazuki off his ‘King of the Mountain’ jersey at the end of today’s race.
Scott Sunderland was Stage 1 champion yesterday and he claimed his yellow after registering 2:54:45 ahead of Ryan Gibbons and Nicolas Marini.
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