Murphy wins stage of Tour de Langkawi

John Murphy (UnitedHealthcare) was justifiably thrilled after he won stage three of the Tour de Langkawi on Friday, but of interest was the sight of Italian Andrea Guardini (Astana) smiling as he sat next to the American after again falling short of a second win.

It is rare that a sprinter who has lost a bunch sprint once – let alone twice and on consecutive days - is as calm and relaxed as Guardini was after Friday’s 107km stage from Kulim to Kuala Kangsar.

After all, Guardini came into the Malaysian race as the sprinter to beat in the eight-stage tour that finishes Wednesday. And he showed why by winning stage one and extend his career tally of stage wins in the event to 19. But then he placed second on stage two behind fellow Italian Andrea Palini (Skydive Dubai) and fifth on Friday.

Murphy, who won the fourth stage of the recent Herald Sun Tour of Victoria in Australia, took out Friday’s stage with a superb sprint, leaving behind him the Italian pair of Francesco Chicchi (Androni Giocattoli-Sidermec) and Jakub Mareczko (Southeast-Venezuela) in second and third places respectively.

In fourth was Slovakian Michael Kolar (Tinkoff), followed by Guardini in fifth.

“The UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling team was phenomenal today,” said Murphy after the podium presentation as he sat to Guardini’s left. “The guys did an awesome job keeping me in pole position all day, keeping me hydrated in the heat, giving me Ally's Bars … I was in a really good position in the last corner.

“I had a great lead out. It was a drag race; that’s what I like. It’s a wonderful finish for my team and me. I’m very happy to win here in Malaysia. I’m having an amazing time. It’s a beautiful country and we’ll keep on racing till the end.”

Murphy’s praise for his team was totally valid, for they were collectively strong, and showed that they are really intent on leaving a mark on the race that resumes on Saturday with the Queens stage, the 129.4km fourth stage four from Tana Rita to the Cameron Highlands in which the American teams plans to have another big say.

However, Guardini’s response to Unitedhealthcare’s performance was interesting, even if he had every reason to be happy that he is still the overall race leader, now by two seconds on second placed Palini and 6s on Murphy in third.

Guardini’s praise for the UnitedHealthcare was either incredibly gracious – and for that, the Italian deserves full marks for sportsmanship. Or was there another motive? Such as, to boost Unitedhealthcare’s confidence and willingness to assume greater responsibility in Saturday’s crucial stage for the overall classification in which Astana have a big contender in Colombian Miguel Lopez, and also in the following stages. The gain for Guardini being that it might save Astana from having to do all the work and be fresher to help him in the next sprint stage.

“In UnitedHealthcare, we’ve now found a team that can pull with us,” Guardini said after Murphy spoke proudly of his team.

“They do a really good job for their sprinter [Murphy]. I quickly understood how difficult it would be to win the sprint when I launched mine and stayed in the same position I was in.”

If anything, Chicchi and Mareczko were the ones showing greater lament.

“I’m disappointed,” Chicchi reflected. “I’ve had to launch from a bit too far out.

“UnitedHealthcare did a perfect job. They went to the right, protected by the barriers while I was in the middle of the road going slightly uphill and exposed to the side wind. I have lost because of my too strong desire to win.”

Whereas Mareczko said: “I was in fourth position at the last curve then I got a bit lost in the sprint.

“I recovered some positions and managed to pass Guardini but I couldn’t get better than third.”

How it happened

The stage was again seemingly destined to finish in a sprint considering the relatively short distance and terrain. But typically there were those in the peloton who dared to challenge the odds and try their hand in a brazen attack.

The brave on Friday were New Zealand’s James Oram (One Pro Cycling), Brazil’s Joao Pereira (Funvic Soul Cycles–Carrefour) and Singapore’s Donaben Goh (Terengganu Cycling) who set off together after seven kilometres.

Their lead on the peloton yo-yo'ed throughout the stage as it weaved through plush plantation fields, villages and towns – and by an audience that not only included local people, but also curious monkeys, chickens and goat herds.

The break’s advantage reached a maximum of 3 minutes 45 seconds at 34km. And when the margin continued to drop and rise it was apparent that it would take a mighty upset – or mishap in the bunch – for a sprint to be averted.

There was no lack of effort by the leaders though, even after they lost contact with one nearing 15km to go – that being Pereira who won the first two of three intermediate sprints and was second in the third that Oram won.

Oram and Goh still put their all into trying to hold the peloton off – a fate that while doomed did not become theirs’ until they reached the one kilometer to go mark.

And, once caught, it was left for Murphy and the sprinters to fight for the spoils.

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