Luzon leads another stage sweep by overseas riders

Musthofid, The Jakarta Post/Purwokerto, Central Java

After denying local players a podium award in the second stage, overseas-based cyclists made another clean sweep with Bernardo Luzon of the Pagcor Casino Filipino team taking the third, 147.7-kilometer stage between Tasikmalaya and Purwokerto on Wednesday.

Luzon registered the best time of three hours, 30 minutes and 54 seconds, leaving Edmund Hollands of the Giant Asia Racing team and Wong Ngai Ching of the Hong Kong National team in a distant second and third, almost three minutes behind.

Local cycling fans in the small town of Central Java still had something to cheer about when Ferinanto of Poligon Sweet Nice Pro Team won the sprint in Majenang, about 80 kilometers from Purwokerto, to take the green jersey.

Luzon's teammate Llyod Reynante and Sansoko Reno Yudo of the Kencana Bike team were the second and third best sprinters respectively.

But the yellow jersey will now be worn by Nathan Dahlberg of the Greenfields Fresh Milk team as the tour leader after the New Zealander maintained his pace in the main group of leaders.

Amin, the overnight leader, had to be content with the red jersey as the overall points winner on the climbs. He scored six points, equal to second stage winner Yevgeny Yakovlev, but the Indonesian was given the jersey as he registered better points in the general classification.

Amin of Sinar Sentosa conceded that he did not have enough support from his teammates when he tried to make a maneuver.

"I made a break, but the others immediately struck back. When they passed me I decided not to try another break as my teammates were struggling far behind," Amin said.

Meanwhile, Dahlberg attributed his success in taking over the lead to the good support he received from his teammates on the break.

"When I made a break, my team members, including Ben Robson, were all in the bunch," he said referring the second stage runner-up in the climb, whose cash prize was withheld after he failed to attend the podium ceremony.

Ferinanto's sprint victory proved his reputation as one of region's best sprinters, and was similar to the sprint he made during last year's Tour de ISSI. A puncture, however, spoilt his bid to keep up with the leading pack during the remainder of the race.

Before Ferinanto's puncture, Luzon had taken over at the front. However, Ferinanto said he could have caught up with the leading pack if the puncture had not happened when he was only one-and-a-half kilometers from the finish line.

Unlike in the previous stages, which were characterized by climbs and slopes, Wednesday's route was generally flat after a descent for the first few kilometers from Tasikmalaya.

The first break happened as earlier as 20 kilometers from the start when the riders left Ciamis. Thirty kilometers before the finish line, a group of riders tried to escape from the main bunch, including Ferinanto and the eventual top three stage winners.

After trailing in the sprint race, Luzon increasingly upped his speed. He shouted in sheer jubilation with his hands clenched in the air as he led the way to the finish line through a huge crowd lining both sides of the streets.

His team are looking ahead to the fourth stage, 145-kilometer race between Semarang and Yogyakarta, in which a 20-kilometer climb awaits the riders.

"We have provided three riders for the climb. They are typical climbers," team manager Ric Rodriguez told the Jakarta Post.

But he would not give their names. "No, I won't tell you. Let's see on the road," he said.

Amin, himself a tough rider, promised another strong performance like the one he displayed in the opening stage.

"I'll be trying to retain the red jersey, at least," he said.

Results from the third stage of the Tour d'Indonesia between Tasikmalaya and Purwokerto on Wednesday:

Stage individual classification

1. Bernardo Luzon PCP/Phi 3:30.54

2. Edmund Hollands GNT/Aus 3:33.29

3. Wong Ngai-Cing HKG/Hkg 3:33.29

General individual classification

1. Nathan Dahlberg GFM/Nzl 11:42.56

2. Amin Suryana SSP/Ina 11:45.05

3. Wong Ngai-Cing HKG/Hkg 11:47.52

Sprint

1. Ferinanto INA/Ina 5

2. Llyod Reynante PCP/Phi 3

3. Sansoko Reno Yudo KBT/Ina 2

4. Rochmat Nugraha INA/Ina 1

Best climbers

1. Amin Suryana SSP/Ina 6

2. Yevgeny Yakovlev PSN/Kaz 6

3. Stig Dam GFM/Den 4