Jelajah Malaysia 2008

LI FU YU BREAKS IRANIAN RIDERS DOMINANCE

Port Dickson : Riders from Marco Polo team, Li Fu Yu steals the limelight as he won the first stage of Jelajah Malaysia 2008, which started earlier today. The rider from China ended enthusiasts’ prediction; that riders from Iran will dominate most of the stages of Jelajah Malaysia 2008.

[img]sportsmalaysia.netthumb StageOne 02.JPGOpen ↗[/img]. Bigger picture here: Jelajah Malaysia 2008 Stage 1

During the press conference, Li said, “First 10km, I’ve tried to break away from the peloton but failed to do so. At 50km I finally succeeded to break away from the peloton”. “Today’s win is due to team effort and good strategy planned earlier on as we take the first stage as crucial as it is our mission to dominate the race to the finish,” Li added. Li, 30, finished first the stage 1 race of 179.7km in a record of 4 hours 12 minutes and 19 seconds; which also made him the red jersey winner (overall best rider).

Blue jersey winner (Sprint King), Anuar Manan from the continental team LeTua said that he is looking forward to get more points in the next stage tomorrow. “My target is to be the overall winner and it would be a bonus for me if I get to win in any of the stages,” he added.

As predicted, Polka Dot jersey (King of Mountain) went to the hands of Hossein Askari, Iranian rider who is riding for the Tabriz Petrochemical Team this time around. RTM jersey (best local rider), which was at first awarded to Mohd Fauzan Ahmad Lutfi from the National Team was revoked as the commissar made the decision that Amir Mustafa Rusli from MCF Continental Team is the real winner of this jersey.

In the first stage today, racing through 4 zones of hill climb (KOM), 3 zones of sprint in the 179.7km range of stage 1 for sure had the riders panting for breath. Even though the hill climb zone at Mantin, Bukit Putus, Ulu Bendul and Senaling is not as difficult as the route to genting, Cameron or even Fraser Hill but the long range of climb had the riders grinding their teeth in their effort to end the first stage in Port Dickson.

Tomorrow, the riders will be riding through a route of 139.5km from Seremban to Melaka in the second stage of JM2008. JM2008 will end this 13th January completing a staggering 1003.8km of race offering an overall prize of RM245,000 for grabs as 21 teams competing against each other in JM2008 which started in Putrajaya earlier today.

[img]sportsmalaysia.netJelajah Malaysia 2008 Stage 2.jpgOpen ↗[/img]

ANUAR SHOWS HIS PROWESS

Melaka : LeTua Continental Team rider, Anuar Manan showed his prowess as he managed to dominate stage 2 of Jelajah Malaysia 2008 today.

The 22-year old rider puts himself in the limelight as he did the last sprint at 30m towards the finishing line to lead the 109 riders. “At the last 20km , the peloton started to slow down thus my team mates made the decision to attack. 1km towards the finishing line, the peloton started to close in to Makoto Iijima (Japan National Team) who had managed to break away earlier”.

[IMG]sportsmalaysia.netthumb anuar manan wins again.JPGOpen ↗[/IMG]More pictures here: Jelajah Malaysia 2008 Stage 2

“At that very minute, I was all ready to sprint and managed to lead as my team did get to position me in the front,” added the rider who hails from Kuala Ibai, Terengganu itu.

Anuar recorded 3 hours 7 minutes and 55 seconds dominating the second stage thus firmly holding on to the Blue Jersey as the Sprint King as he managed to gain 14 points.

In the previous edition of JM, Anuar won the title Sprint King and also won two stages from Kuala Terengganu to Kota Baharu and also from Ipoh to Kuala Kubu Baru.

The RTM jersey which carries the title Best Local Rider is firmly in the grip of MCF Continental Team rider, Amir Mustafa Rusli who missed out the opportunity to be on the podium due to technical error.

“Yesterday I didn’t know that I was the RTM jersey winner but it’s OK as today I managed to don the best local rider jersey.”

“I hope that I managed to be in the leading group as tomorrow’s race is expected to finish in a peloton as well,” he added.

As for the Red Jersey (Overall Winner) , it is still in the hands of Li Fu Yu from Trek Marco Polo Team and Polka Dot Jersey (king of Mountain) is still with Hossein Askari of Tabriz Petrochemical team.

In the second stage, from Seremban to Melaka today, riders went through 139.5km of flatlands. JM 2008 which will be concluded on 13th January covers a route of 1,003.8 km and offering an overall prize of RM245,000 to 21 experienced participating teams up for grabs.

[IMG]sportsmalaysia.netJelajah Malaysia 2008 Stage 3.jpgOpen ↗[/IMG]

ANUAR DOMINATES AGAIN!

Batu Pahat : Once again Anuar Manan shows the invincibility of continental team Le Tua in Jelajah Malaysia (JM) 2008 today as he dominates stage 3; a race route of 163.8km.

The rider who hails from Kuala Ibai, Terengganu made a winning record of two stages consecutively. “Last year I also won two stages but this time around I would prefer to have more victories. I consider myself lucky this year as my team consists of pretty good riders and they have done a good job to ensure my victory,” he said.

[img]sportsmalaysia.netthumb finishlineatbatupahat.jpgOpen ↗[/img]More photos and official results : Jelajah Malaysia 2008 Stage 3

In the previous JM, Anuar, 22, had won two stages, from Kuala Terengganu to Kota Baharu and also from Ipoh to Kuala Kubu Baru and managed to become the Sprint King.

In the stage 3 race today starting from Bandar Hilir, Melaka to Batu Pahat, an accident occurred at the last kilometer towards the finishing line involving three local riders; Mohd Hariff Salleh, Mohd Sayuti Zahit and Ahmad Haidar Anuawar.

“At the last 1km towards the finishing line, me and five other riders were in the front pack of the peloton, I didn’t have the slightest idea an accident had occurred as we were going for the final sprint,” he quoted as he recorded 3 hours 55 minutes and 35 seconds in the race earlier today.

Anuar also keeps a tight grip to the Bluue Jersey as the Sprint King as he added another 5 points to a total of 19 points. Makoto Iijima from Japan is in the second place with 13 points.

As for the three jerseys to be won, all is still in the hands of same riders.

Red Jersey (Best Overall Rider) is in the hands of Li Fu Yu of Trek Marco Polo, Polka Dot (King of Mountain) won by Hossein Askari (Tabriz Petrochemical) and RTM jersey (Best Local Rider) is still with Amir Mustafa Rusli (MCF Continental).

“Today was a difficult stage for me nevertheless our team has done their best. I have to admit that Team LeTua is a strong team, thus we have our strategy to ensure a good position in the peloton.

“As for tomorrow, I’m pretty enthusiastic as everyday we have to go through difficult route,” quoted the 30-year old Li during the winners’ press conference.

JM 2008 which will be concluded on 13th Jan covers a race route of 1,003.8 km and offers an overall prize of RM245,000 for grabs.

Stage 4: 10th January 2008, Pejabat JKR Daerah, BATU PAHAT to Dataran Tanjung Emas, MUAR (178.8km)
Start : 10am

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