Nguyen Hoang Giang claimed the first stage victory for the Loc Troi team in the 32nd HTV Cup Vietnam as he bettered his four breakaway companions in Da Nang.
"Hoang Giang was my teammate in 2018 so I know that he’s a protagonist for the general classification," Spain’s Javier Sardá Perez told Cyclingnews.
"But the final results will depend very much on the team time trial on stage 13 and the mountainous queen stage to Da Lat [stage 15]."
Stage 5 was the first mountainous stage and it put Sardá in the lead of the King of the Mountains competition as he crested the Hai Van pass in first position.
The Zamora-born rider, who missed on that day the first birthday of his son due to the postponement of the HTV Cup from April to May, confirmed to his opponents that he’s not only the defending champion but also the hot favourite of the 32nd edition of Vietnam’s oldest and longest stage race.
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nguyen Hoang Giang (Vie) Tap Doan Loc Troi | 2:47:52 |
| 2 | Nguyen Thang (Vie) Than Pho Ho Chi Minh | |
| 3 | Pham Quoc Curong (Vie) D. Domesco Dong Thap | |
| 4 | Phan Thanh Tan Tai (Vie) Vinh Long | |
| 5 | Nguyen Pham Quoc Khang (Vie) Bikelife Dong Nai | |
| 6 | Le Nguyet Minh (Vie) TP Ho Chi Minh | 0:00:09 |
| 7 | Nguyen Truong Tai (Vie) Ho Chi Minh City-MM Mega Market | |
| 8 | Nguyen Tan Hoai (Vie) D. Domesco Dong Thap | |
| 9 | Trinh Duc Tam (Vie) Tap Doan Loc Troi | |
| 10 | Javier Sarda Perez (Spa) Ho Chi Minh City-MM Mega Market |
| # | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nguyen Tan Hoai (Vie) D. Domesco Dong Thap | 14:26:25 |
| 2 | Nguyen Hoang Giang (Vie) Tap Doan Loc Troi | 0:00:07 |
| 3 | Pham Quoc Curong (Vie) D. Domesco Dong Thap | |
| 4 | Vo Thanh An (Vie) Vinh Long | 0:00:09 |
| 5 | Nguyen Thang (Vie) Than Pho Ho Chi Minh | 0:00:11 |
| 6 | Le Nguyet Minh (Vie) Than Pho Ho Chi Minh | 0:00:16 |
| 7 | Nguyen Pham Quoc Khang (Vie) Bikelife Dong Nai | 0:00:17 |
| 8 | Nguyen Truong Tai (Vie) Ho Chi Minh City-MM Mega Market | 0:00:20 |
| 9 | Loic Desriac (Fra) Bikelife Dong Nai | |
| 10 | Trinh Duc Tam (Vie) Tap Doan Loc Troi | 0:00:21 |
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