Luzon leads another stage sweep by overseas riders<\/p>\n
Musthofid, The Jakarta Post\/Purwokerto, Central Java<\/p>\n
After denying local players a podium award in the second
\nstage, overseas-based cyclists made another clean sweep with
\nBernardo Luzon of the Pagcor Casino Filipino team taking the
\nthird, 147.7-kilometer stage between Tasikmalaya and Purwokerto
\non Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Luzon registered the best time of three hours, 30 minutes and
\n54 seconds, leaving Edmund Hollands of the Giant Asia Racing team
\nand Wong Ngai Ching of the Hong Kong National team in a distant
\nsecond and third, almost three minutes behind.<\/p>\n
Local cycling fans in the small town of Central Java still had
\nsomething to cheer about when Ferinanto of Poligon Sweet Nice Pro
\nTeam won the sprint in Majenang, about 80 kilometers from
\nPurwokerto, to take the green jersey.<\/p>\n
Luzon's teammate Llyod Reynante and Sansoko Reno Yudo of the
\nKencana Bike team were the second and third best sprinters
\nrespectively.<\/p>\n
But the yellow jersey will now be worn by Nathan Dahlberg of
\nthe Greenfields Fresh Milk team as the tour leader after the New
\nZealander maintained his pace in the main group of leaders.<\/p>\n
Amin, the overnight leader, had to be content with the red
\njersey as the overall points winner on the climbs. He scored six
\npoints, equal to second stage winner Yevgeny Yakovlev, but the
\nIndonesian was given the jersey as he registered better points in
\nthe general classification.<\/p>\n
Amin of Sinar Sentosa conceded that he did not have enough
\nsupport from his teammates when he tried to make a maneuver.<\/p>\n
\"I made a break, but the others immediately struck back. When
\nthey passed me I decided not to try another break as my teammates
\nwere struggling far behind,\" Amin said.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Dahlberg attributed his success in taking over the
\nlead to the good support he received from his teammates on the
\nbreak.<\/p>\n
\"When I made a break, my team members, including Ben Robson,
\nwere all in the bunch,\" he said referring the second stage
\nrunner-up in the climb, whose cash prize was withheld after he
\nfailed to attend the podium ceremony.<\/p>\n
Ferinanto's sprint victory proved his reputation as one of
\nregion's best sprinters, and was similar to the sprint he made
\nduring last year's Tour de ISSI. A puncture, however, spoilt his
\nbid to keep up with the leading pack during the remainder of the
\nrace.<\/p>\n
Before Ferinanto's puncture, Luzon had taken over at the
\nfront. However, Ferinanto said he could have caught up with the
\nleading pack if the puncture had not happened when he was only
\none-and-a-half kilometers from the finish line.<\/p>\n
Unlike in the previous stages, which were characterized by
\nclimbs and slopes, Wednesday's route was generally flat after a
\ndescent for the first few kilometers from Tasikmalaya.<\/p>\n
The first break happened as earlier as 20 kilometers from the
\nstart when the riders left Ciamis. Thirty kilometers before the
\nfinish line, a group of riders tried to escape from the main
\nbunch, including Ferinanto and the eventual top three stage
\nwinners.<\/p>\n
After trailing in the sprint race, Luzon increasingly upped
\nhis speed. He shouted in sheer jubilation with his hands clenched
\nin the air as he led the way to the finish line through a huge
\ncrowd lining both sides of the streets.<\/p>\n
His team are looking ahead to the fourth stage, 145-kilometer
\nrace between Semarang and Yogyakarta, in which a 20-kilometer
\nclimb awaits the riders.<\/p>\n
\"We have provided three riders for the climb. They are typical
\nclimbers,\" team manager Ric Rodriguez told the Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
But he would not give their names. \"No, I won't tell you.
\nLet's see on the road,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Amin, himself a tough rider, promised another strong
\nperformance like the one he displayed in the opening stage.<\/p>\n
\"I'll be trying to retain the red jersey, at least,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Results from the third stage of the Tour d'Indonesia between
\nTasikmalaya and Purwokerto on Wednesday:<\/p>\n
Stage individual classification<\/p>\n
1. Bernardo Luzon PCP\/Phi 3:30.54<\/p>\n
2. Edmund Hollands GNT\/Aus 3:33.29<\/p>\n
3. Wong Ngai-Cing HKG\/Hkg 3:33.29<\/p>\n
General individual classification<\/p>\n
1. Nathan Dahlberg GFM\/Nzl 11:42.56<\/p>\n
2. Amin Suryana SSP\/Ina 11:45.05<\/p>\n
3. Wong Ngai-Cing HKG\/Hkg 11:47.52<\/p>\n
Sprint<\/p>\n
1. Ferinanto INA\/Ina 5<\/p>\n
2. Llyod Reynante PCP\/Phi 3<\/p>\n
3. Sansoko Reno Yudo KBT\/Ina 2<\/p>\n
4. Rochmat Nugraha INA\/Ina 1<\/p>\n
Best climbers<\/p>\n
1. Amin Suryana SSP\/Ina 6<\/p>\n
2. Yevgeny Yakovlev PSN\/Kaz 6<\/p>\n
3. Stig Dam GFM\/Den 4<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/luzon-leads-another-stage-sweep-by-overseas-riders-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }