BATU PAHAT: Going against the norm paid off in spades for Equipo Kern Pharma’s Nil Gimeno Ferrer as he captured his first professional stage win at Stage 7 of the 30th Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) yesterday.
While a bunch sprint was widely anticipated to conclude the 158.9km penultimate stage from Melaka to Batu Pahat, Gimeno initiated an early breakaway alongside six other riders.
The tactical shift allowed the 22-year-old to cross the finish line first at 3’12:33. Mario Aparicio of Burgos Burpellet-BH finished in second, while Wheeltop Rotor Chengdu’s Andrei Stephanov completed the podium.
“I can’t believe it at all,” Ferrer said following the race.
“I was expecting a bunch sprint as well. But with 60km remaining, we all started to go at full throttle.”
“To be honest, it was only in the last kilometer that I began to think it was possible.”
Ferrer, who narrowly missed the podium with a fourth-place finish in Stage 4 from Meru Raya to Cameron Highlands, noted that the victory was a long time coming for the Spanish team.
“We came here to win a stage. We thought it would be Stage 4, but it didn't happen,”
“It's not been an easy time for the team. We've been fighting all year to secure a new sponsor, but they always believed in me. They gave me the opportunity to race in the best events over the last two years, so this victory is also for them.”
Despite being more of a natural climber than a sprinter, this win in Johor marks Ferrer’s second LTdL podium.
He previously finished third in last year's final stage from Tangkak to Kuala Lumpur, where he was also named the most combative rider.
Ferrer affirmed that his motivation to fight for every race will remain unchanged following his first professional win.
In addition to the career milestone, Ferrer dedicated the victory to a close personal connection.
“There’s one member that I love very much who’s not having the best time. I am fighting for him and this victory is his,” added Ferrer, who also got third in the King of Mountain (KOM) standings at last year’s LTdL.
Meanwhile, this year’s race for the polda-dot jersey (KOM) seems firmly in Tudor Pro Cycling’s Lennart Jasch’s hands as he leads with 45 points. Jasch also retains his orange jersey as leader in the general classification table.
The blue jersey (best sprinter) and white jersey (best Asian rider) also stayed with Matteo Malucelli of XDS-Astana and Aisan Racing Team’s Yuhi Todome respectively.
The final stage of the race flags off today, taking the peloton from Muar to Putrajaya. Riders will contest three sprints in Simpang Ampat, Seremban, and Nilai, as well as a Category 3 King of the Mountains (KOM) climb at Bukit Mantin, in their final opportunity to make their mark on the event.
STAGE 7 RESULTS
Top 10 finishers: 1. Nil Gimeno Ferrer (Esp) Equipo Kern Pharma, 2. Mario Aparicio (Esp) Burgos Burpellet-BH, 3. Andrei Stephanov (Rus) Wheeltop Rotor Chengdu, 4. Adne Van Engelen (Ned) Terengganu Cycling Team (Note 1st-4th same time 3’12:33), 5. Riley Pickrell (Can) Modern Adventure Pro Cycling, 6. Matteo Malucelli (Ita) XDS-Astana 3’13:06, 7. Christiaan Van Rees (Ned) Team Picnic PostNL, 8. Filippo Cettolin (Ita) Bardiani CSF 7 Saber, 8. Seppe Van Den Boer (Bel) Tudor Pro Cycling, 10. Gleb Syritsa (Rus) XDS-Astana (Note: 5th-10th all same time 3’13:06).
Orange Jersey (Overall Leader): 1. Lennart Jasch (Ger) Tudor Pro Cycling 24’51:45, 2. Abel Balderstone (Esp) Caja Rural-Suguros RGA 24’52:11, 3. Jan Castellon (Esp) Caja Rural-Suguros RGA 24’52:27, 4. Jose Manuel Diaz (Esp) Burgos Burpellet-BH 24’53:06, 5. Eivind Broholt Foughner (Nor) Unibet Rose Rockets 24’53:22.
Blue Jersey (Best Sprinter): 1. Matteo Malucelli (Ita) XDS-Astana 50 pts, 2. Riley Pickrell (Can) Modern Adventure Pro Cycling 39, 3. Seppe Van Den Boer (Bel) Tudor Pro Cycling 24.
Polka Dot Jersey (King of Mountain): 1. Lennart Jasch (Ger) Tudor Pro Cycling 45 pts, 2. Petr Rikunov (Rus) Wheeltop Rotor Chengdu 41, 3. Jan Cestellon (Esp) Caja Rural-Suguros RGA 26.
White Jersey (Best Asian Rider): 1. Yuhi Todeme (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team 24’59:06, 2. Tsen Ren Bao (Mas) St George Continental 25’02:50, 3. Tsen Ren Han (Mas) Malaysia National Team 25’04:31.
Team General Classification: 1. Caja Rural-Suguros RGA 74’46:21, 2. Unibet Rose Rockets 74’49:54, 3. Burgos Burpellet-BH 74’50:58.
Best Asian Team: 1. Nusantara 75’26:42, 2. Malaysia National Team 75’31:16, 3. 47’52:55, 3. Thailand Continental Cycling 75’36:32.
