Sky rider Mancebo takes first stage of Jelajah Malaysia

Francisco Mancebo of Sky Dive Dubai celebrated his victory as he crossed the finishing line at the Ministry of Tourism and Cultural building in Putrajaya, on Wednesday.

PUTRAJAYA: Sky Dive Dubai cyclist Francisco Mancebo showed his credentials by claiming a superb solo victory in Stage One of the 51st Jelajah Malaysia race from Menara DBKL in Kuala Lumpur to the Ministry of Tourism and Culture here.

The 39-year-old Spaniard joined a 28-man breakaway after the 39.4km Batu Arang second climbing zone before heading out alone for the rest of the race.

Mancebo, who finished fourth overall in the 2005 Tour de France, went on to cross the finish line of the 159km race in 3’31:55 – a whopping 63 seconds ahead of Hong Kong’s Cheung King Lok and Marcelo Felipe of the Team 7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines, who both clocked 3’32:58.

The first-stage victory sees him lead both the overall (yellow jersey) and points (blue jersey) classifications.

“I feel so happy... a solo victory is always fulfilling,” said Mancebo, the Tour of Egypt overall winner in January.

“I have established a good gap and I believe I can keep the yellow jersey.”

Shaiful Anuar Aziz of the Terengganu Cycling Team emerged as the best Malaysian rider of the day after finishing fifth in 3’33:16.

Team-mate Nur Amirul Fakhruddin Marzuki, 23, was impressive too. He leads the climbers’ classification (red jersey) after winning both mountain points at Bukit Templer and Batu Arang.

“It wasn’t something I expected as I’m still tired after competing in the Tour of Sharjah (in the UAE),” said Amirul, who won a stage in the Tour of Borneo last month.

Stage Two on Thursday will see the 109 riders competing in the 16.5km team time trial in Putrajaya.

RESULTS

Stage One (159km): 1. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Sky Dive Dubai 3’31:55, 2. Cheung King Lok (Hkg) Hong Kong 3’32:58, 3. Marcelo Felipe (Phi) Team 7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines both same time, 4. Kim Ok-cheol (Kor) South Korea 3’33:16, 5. Mohd Saiful Anuar Aziz (Mas) Terengganu Cycling Team same time.

Leading Overall Classification: 1. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Sky Dive Dubai 3’31.43, 2. Cheung King Lok (Hkg) Hong Kong 3’32:49, 3. Marcelo Felipe (Phi) Team 7-Eleven Roadbike Philippines 3’32.54, 4. Mohd Saiful Anuar Aziz (Mas) Terengganu Cycling Team 3’33:13, 5. Arin Iswana (Ina) Pegasus Continental Cycling Team 3’33:15.

Best young rider: 1. Kim Ok-cheol (Kor) South Korea 3’33:16, 2. Dylan Newbery (Aus) Data 3 Symantec Racing Team 3’33:21, 3. Sofian Nabil Omar Mohd Bakri (Mas) National Sports Council 3’33:24, 4. Ma Cau Ying (Mas) 3’33:31 Dewan Bandaraya Kuala Lumpur, 5. Leung Ka Yu (Hkg) Hong Kong 3’33.42.

Leading Mountain Classification: 1. Nur Amirul Fakhruddin Marzuki (Mas) Terengganu Cycling Team 8pts, 2. Hamid Beikkhormizi (Iri) Pishgaman Giant Team 4, 3. Arin Iswana (Ina) Pegasus Continental Cycling Team 1.

Leading Points Classification: 1. Francisco Mancebo (Spa) Sky Dive Dubai 18pts, 2. Cheung King Lok (Hkg) Hong Kong 17, 3. Mohd Saiful Anuar Aziz (Mas) Terengganu Cycling Team 11.