Van der Ploeg takes historic win

The first day of the first race in the world's newest nation, and it wasn't until the final climb into the old city of Baucau that the winner of the opening stage of the Tour de Timor was decided. Australian rider Neil Van der Ploeg surged on the ascent to take what is a historic win in this fledgling event.

On the snaking climb into the old city two riders who had broken away 10 kilometres into the race were reeled in by a chasing group of seven before it was each man for himself as three Australian riders moved ahead.

As the trio sped along a short downhill to the finish line it was Neil Van der Ploeg from team Mad Dogs who managed to gain a 1:38 gap on compatriots Mark Frendo and Brendan Brooks of Shortis Cycle and Tri to come up with the goods, covering the distance in under four hours with an average speed of 32.24km/h.

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Tory Thomas from Team TORQ Australia was the first female rider to complete the 128km course from the capital Dili to Baucau in a time of 4:54:40. Two Timorese riders made it into the top 30.

Waved off by Timorese President Dr Jose Ramos-Horta, a field of 320 riders set off from the Presidential Place in Dili heading for Timor-Leste's second-biggest town, Baucau.

After winning the maximum points for King of the Mountain 10 kilometres into the race, Scott Listen (MADOGS) surged ahead and joined by Brendan Brooks (Shortis Cycle and Tri) the pair rode off the front for over 100km. An organised chase group finally emerged and caught them on the climb just three kilometres from the finish line.

From that point it was Neil Van der Ploeg who was able to capitalise on his teammate's escapade by sitting on in the chase group and then snaring the first leader's jersey of the Tour de Timor.

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