Pollock holds on after finale crash to claim overall win in Taiwan

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The Tour de Taiwan concluded in Kaohsiung with Jonathan Cantwell (Saxo Bank) sprinting to his second stage victory of the race. The 30-year-old Australian outkicked Androni's Roberto Ferrari and Champion System's Adiq Hussainie Othman, who made his second top ten in a row, showing that he can both sprint and climb in the presence of some of the world's best teams.

The Malaysian's former teammate Rhys Pollock (Drapac) secured the overall victory despite crashing with 800 metres to go. Pollock defended his narrow two-second advantage over Kam Po Wong (Hong Kong Team) and six-second lead over third-placed Dirk Müller (Nutrixxion Abus).

"I knew the rule of the last 3km but I was scared because anything can happen," Pollock said. "[Third placed on GC] Dirk Muller could have jumped away and taken some time, so I told my teammates who wanted to celebrate: 'hey, just wait until the commissaires give it all clear'. I had to take some risks as if I was a sprinter myself. Now I'm just relieved that I held on to victory."

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It wasn't a walk in the park for Pollock as the breakaway of the day comprised Taiwan-based veteran Lee Rodgers who eventually won the points classification, Saxo Bank's Volodimir Gustov, Hong Kong's Yeung Yin Hon and Champion System's Cameron Wurf, who all threatened Pollock's leading position. "The four riders away were dangerous on GC," Pollock said. "My team rode fantastically. Credit goes to the Hong Kong rider who was solo until 5km to go."

Pollock became the first Australian to win the Tour de Taiwan. The race was created in 1987, promoted to international level as part of the Asia Tour in 2005 and upgraded to the UCI 2.1 category this year. "The Tour de Taiwan is a popular race also in Australia," Pollock said. "I think Drapac came twice second in the past and we lost the lead of Peter McDonald two years ago on the last day, so we needed to get the monkey off our back. I was nervous about losing the yellow jersey. People here in Taiwan are fantastic, the race organization, the food, etc. It's one of my favourite races of the year."

Besides Adiq Hussainie, who might have caught the attention of the European teams, the revelation of the Tour de Taiwan was local rider Feng Chun Kai who finished seventh overall and claimed the King of the Mountains classification. "My next goal is to go back to school because my teachers might not be happy with me missing class these days," said the 23-year-old sports science student. "Shall I and my team [Action] improve, I give myself two years for winning the Tour de Taiwan."