Shimizu takes a sprint win at Hsingang

It was probably the best move he's ever made in his career and for Shimizu Miyataka riding on the tail of Hong Kong's prolific Kam Po Wong gifted him the second stage of thius year's Tour de Taiwan.

The 136km flat journey from Chiayi City Hall to the historically spiritual finish at the Fentien Temple might not have promised much but the end was anything but predictable.

"We had the right strategy in place for this stage and with the terrain being flat, there's every possibility that one of us can take it," said Shimizu.

"The final lap was important and I tailed Kam Po before hitting the gas at the end; it was a little gamble but it being my first time here, it was a chance and a fight I was willing to take - and it paid off."

The several breakaways throughout the day did not yield the advantage some of the riders were looking for.

And despite the ban on radio communication, there was enough experience in the peloton to make sure that only a few riders with the right kilometres in their legs survived going into the final sprint at the Fengtien Temple.

For Wong, the advantage he thought he had after building a steady lead going into the three-round circuit in and around Fengtien Temple evaporated in the last 300m.

"My teammate (Choi Ki Ho, winner of the Madison at the Track World Cup in Beijing earlier this year) had led at the last two kilometres and when I went on my way, I did not realise the Japanese rider was following me," said Wong.

"By the time I wanted to shake him off, he was already pushing past me and by then it was already too late."

With David McCann sitting comfortably and well-protected by his Giant Asia Racing team, the lanky Irishman still holds the tour leader yellow jersey and the sprinters' green jersey heading into tomorrow's stage three in Changhua County.

"The team worked really well today and our aim was just to protect the yellow jersey. I think that we should not have a problem in keeping it until the end of the tour," said McCann afterwards.

The Malaysian national team is also applying the same strategy in as far as their ultimate target for the Tour de Taiwan is concerned.

Following its strong start when Rezuan Zainal rode into the king of the mountains jersey in stage one, the race today, which was devoid of any climbs, saw them sitting back in preparation for the several first and second category mountains in the next few days.

"The plan is to protect the jersey until the end while at the same time, we are also aiming to try to win at least one stage," added Rezuan.

"The weather here is not too bad and it is certainly not as hot as Malaysia. But since there are no big climbs this time round, I think that we are quite confident of keeping the jersey."

For the current best Asian rider, Cheung King Wei of Hong Kong, he was just not willing to sit back and protect the jersey.

"It could have been an easy ride but I tried to go for the stage win when I went in front with the breakaway group - but I was caught," said Cheung.

"For the next couple of days, I will have to pay special attention to Feng (Chun Kai). He seems to be quite strong."

Stage three will start from Baguashan Buddha - one of the biggest in Taiwan - before passing through Lugang Old Town, Sijhou Flower Park and then returning to finish at Baguashan. With a category two climb and two sprints, the 136km ride will be anything but leisurely.

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Results
1Miyataka Shimizu (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor3:22:00
2Kam-Po Wong (HKg) Hong Kong, ChinaRow 1 - Cell 2
3Tomas Smolen (Pol) Ccc Polsat PolkowiceRow 2 - Cell 2
4Mohd Nor Rizuan Zainal (Mas) MalaysiaRow 3 - Cell 2
5Takashi Miyazawa (Jpn) JapanRow 4 - Cell 2
6Takeaki Ayabe (Jpn) Aisan Racing TeamRow 5 - Cell 2
7Young Uk Kim (Kor) Geumsan Ginseng AsiaRow 6 - Cell 2
8Graham Briggs (GBr) Rapha Condor - SharpRow 7 - Cell 2
9Dean Downing (GBr) Rapha Condor - SharpRow 8 - Cell 2
10Kyle Marwood (Aus) Genesys Wealth AdvisersRow 9 - Cell 2
11Herwin Jaya (Ina) PsnRow 10 - Cell 2
12Ben Grenda (Aus) Genesys Wealth AdvisersRow 11 - Cell 2
13Chad Hartley (USA) Kenda Presented By Gear GrinderRow 12 - Cell 2
14Eugen Wacker (Kgz) Giant Asia Racing TeamRow 13 - Cell 2
15Wan Mohammed Najmee Wan Mohammed (Mas) MalaysiaRow 14 - Cell 2
16Yung Hua Cheng (Tpe)Row 15 - Cell 2
17Kin San Wu (HKg) Hong Kong, ChinaRow 16 - Cell 2
18Roman Krasilnikov (Rus) PsnRow 17 - Cell 2
19Patria Rastra (Ina) PsnRow 18 - Cell 2
20Nara Motoi (Jpn) Geumsan Ginseng AsiaRow 19 - Cell 2
21Wei Cheng Lee (Tpe) ActRow 20 - Cell 2
22Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Ckt Tmit - Champion SystemRow 21 - Cell 2
23David Mccann (Irl) Giant Asia Racing TeamRow 22 - Cell 2
24Arjen Ten Dam (Ned) NetherlandsRow 23 - Cell 2
25Mathew Cronshaw (GBr) Rapha Condor - SharpRow 24 - Cell 2
26Masahiro Shinagawa (Jpn) Aisan Racing TeamRow 25 - Cell 2
27Jumpei Murakami (Jpn) Shimano RacingRow 26 - Cell 2
28Masamichi Yamamoto (Jpn) Bridgestone AnchorRow 27 - Cell 2
29Shih Hsin Hsiao (Tpe)Row 28 - Cell 2
30Shih Chang Huang (Tpe) ActRow 29 - Cell 2
31Wei Chieh Liu (Tpe) ActRow 30 - Cell 2
32Yuzuru Suzuki (Jpn) Shimano RacingRow 31 - Cell 2
33Bartlomiej Matysiak (Pol) Ccc Polsat PolkowiceRow 32 - Cell 2
34Chun Kai Feng (Tpe) ActRow 33 - Cell 2
35Shu Ming Liu (Tpe)Row 34 - Cell 2
36Deon Locke (Aus) Ckt Tmit - Champion SystemRow 35 - Cell 2
37Jacob Rytlewski (USA) Kenda Presented By Gear GrinderRow 36 - Cell 2
38René Hooghiemster (Ned) NetherlandsRow 37 - Cell 2
39Jaroslaw Rebiewski (Pol) Ccc Polsat PolkowiceRow 38 - Cell 2
40Ssu Ju Peng (Tpe)Row 39 - Cell 2
41Kohei Uchima (Jpn) JapanRow 40 - Cell 2
42Roger Beuchat (Swi) Ckt Tmit - Champion SystemRow 41 - Cell 2
43Phillip Gaimon (USA) Kenda Presented By Gear GrinderRow 42 - Cell 2
44Tomoya Kano (Jpn) Bridgestone AnchorRow 43 - Cell 2
45Ki Ho Choi (HKg) Hong Kong, ChinaRow 44 - Cell 2
46Haan Wouter (Ned) NetherlandsRow 45 - Cell 2
47William Clarke (Aus) Genesys Wealth AdvisersRow 46 - Cell 2
48Yin-Chih Wang (Tpe) Ckt Tmit - Champion SystemRow 47 - Cell 2
49Kenji Itami (Jpn) Bridgestone AnchorRow 48 - Cell 2
50Hidenori Nodera (Jpn) Shimano RacingRow 49 - Cell 2
51Cheng Chen Su (Tpe)Row 50 - Cell 2
52Mart Ojavee (Est) Ckt Tmit - Champion SystemRow 51 - Cell 2
53Ivor Bruin (Ned) NetherlandsRow 52 - Cell 2
54Fan Hsin Chu (Tpe)Row 53 - Cell 2
55Suhardi Hassan (Mas) MalaysiaRow 54 - Cell 2
56Chia Chun Chen (Tpe) ActRow 55 - Cell 2
57Adrian Honkisz (Pol) Ccc Polsat PolkowiceRow 56 - Cell 2
58King Wai Cheung (HKg) Hong Kong, ChinaRow 57 - Cell 2
59Chih Feng Liu (Tpe)Row 58 - Cell 2
60Nathan Haas (Aus) Genesys Wealth AdvisersRow 59 - Cell 2
61Wen Lung Chien (Tpe)Row 60 - Cell 2
62Alex Coutts (Gbr) Giant Asia Racing TeamRow 61 - Cell 2
63Tomasz Kiendys (Pol) Ccc Polsat PolkowiceRow 62 - Cell 2
64Barati Rasoul (Iri) Giant Asia Racing TeamRow 63 - Cell 2
65Kuan Hua Lai (Tpe) Giant Asia Racing TeamRow 64 - Cell 2
66Yusrizal Usoff (Mas) MalaysiaRow 65 - Cell 2
67Ying Hon Yeung (HKg) Hong Kong, ChinaRow 66 - Cell 2
68Seiichi Koshinomi (Jpn) JapanRow 67 - Cell 2
69Ben Greenwood (GBr) Rapha Condor - SharpRow 68 - Cell 2
70Jonathan Sundt (USA) Kenda Presented By Gear GrinderRow 69 - Cell 2
71Chad Burdzilauskas (USA) Kenda Presented By Gear GrinderRow 70 - Cell 2
72Chun Liang Pan (Tpe)Row 71 - Cell 2
73Shinpei Fukuda (Jpn) Aisan Racing TeamRow 72 - Cell 2
74Ali Ahmad Fallanie (Mas) MalaysiaRow 73 - Cell 2
75Chin Lung Huang (Tpe)Row 74 - Cell 2
76Jun-Oh Kwon (Kor) Geumsan Ginseng AsiaRow 75 - Cell 2
77Shuai-Chun Chiang (Tpe)0:00:20
78Sergey Kudentsov (Rus) PsnRow 77 - Cell 2
79Taiji Nishitani (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team0:00:22
80Tomohiro Hayakawa (Jpn) Japan0:00:24
81Yoshiyuki Shimizu (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor0:00:38
82Takumi Beppu (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team0:00:46
83Dean Windsor (Aus) Rapha Condor - Sharp0:01:45
84Shinri Suzuki (Jpn) Shimano Racing0:01:59
85Tsun Kuei Chen (Tpe)0:03:16
86An Lung Hsieh (Tpe)0:03:46
87Chia Hung Lin (Tpe)0:03:56
88Tosser Chiu (Tpe)Row 87 - Cell 2
89Nathan Earle (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers0:04:52
90Jong Kwang Kim (Kor) Geumsan Ginseng AsiaRow 89 - Cell 2
91Chia Hong Yang (Tpe)Row 90 - Cell 2
92Nonaka Ryoma (Jpn) Japan0:07:07
93Yoshinori Iino (Jpn) Shimano Racing0:08:40
94Hari Fitrianto (Ina) Psn0:09:07
95Shinichi Fukushima (Jpn) Geumsan Ginseng Asia0:10:00
DNSMelvin Boskamp (Ned) NetherlandsRow 95 - Cell 2
Swipe to scroll horizontally
General Classification
1David McCann (Irl) Giant Asia Racing Team6:33:30
2Phillip Gaimon (USA) Kenda Presented By Gear Grinder0:00:11
3William Clarke (Aus) Genesys Wealth AdvisersRow 2 - Cell 2
4King Wai Cheung (HKg) Hong Kong, China0:00:27
5Chun Kai Feng (Tpe) Act0:00:31
6Takashi Miyazawa (Jpn) Japan0:00:50
7Ki Ho Choi (HKg) Hong Kong, China0:00:55
8Dean Downing (GBr) Rapha Condor - Sharp0:00:57
9Roger Beuchat (Swi) Ckt Tmit - Champion SystemRow 8 - Cell 2
10Tomas Smolen (Pol) Ccc Polsat Polkowice0:01:03
11Yuzuru Suzuki (Jpn) Shimano Racing0:01:04
12Takeaki Ayabe (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team0:01:07
13René Hooghiemster (Ned) NetherlandsRow 12 - Cell 2
14Shu Ming Liu (Tpe)Row 13 - Cell 2
15Hidenori Nodera (Jpn) Shimano RacingRow 14 - Cell 2
16Mart Ojavee (Est) Ckt Tmit - Champion SystemRow 15 - Cell 2
17Suhardi Hassan (Mas) MalaysiaRow 16 - Cell 2
18Kenji Itami (Jpn) Bridgestone AnchorRow 17 - Cell 2
19Fan Hsin Chu (Tpe)Row 18 - Cell 2
20Tomoya Kano (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor0:01:10
21Patria Rastra (Ina) Psn0:01:19
22Kin San Wu (HKg) Hong Kong, China0:02:40
23Jacob Rytlewski (USA) Kenda Presented By Gear GrinderRow 22 - Cell 2
24Kam-Po Wong (HKg) Hong Kong, China0:03:21
25Wei Cheng Lee (Tpe) Act0:03:27
26Chad Hartley (USA) Kenda Presented By Gear GrinderRow 25 - Cell 2
27Shih Chang Huang (Tpe) ActRow 26 - Cell 2
28Wei Chieh Liu (Tpe) ActRow 27 - Cell 2
29Jumpei Murakami (Jpn) Shimano RacingRow 28 - Cell 2
30Deon Locke (Aus) Ckt Tmit - Champion SystemRow 29 - Cell 2
31Jaroslaw Rebiewski (Pol) Ccc Polsat PolkowiceRow 30 - Cell 2
32Kohei Uchima (Jpn) JapanRow 31 - Cell 2
33Chih Feng Liu (Tpe)Row 32 - Cell 2
34Yusrizal Usoff (Mas) MalaysiaRow 33 - Cell 2
35Alex Coutts (Gbr) Giant Asia Racing TeamRow 34 - Cell 2
36Kuan Hua Lai (Tpe) Giant Asia Racing TeamRow 35 - Cell 2
37Ben Greenwood (Gbr) Rapha Condor - SharpRow 36 - Cell 2
38Yin-Chih Wang (Tpe) Ckt Tmit - Champion System0:03:32
39Ben Grenda (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers0:05:19
40Eugen Wacker (Kgz) Giant Asia Racing TeamRow 39 - Cell 2
41Chin Lung Huang (Tpe)Row 40 - Cell 2
42Mohd Nor Rizuan Zainal (Mas) Malaysia0:06:06
43Masahiro Shinagawa (Jpn) Aisan Racing TeamRow 42 - Cell 2
44Chun Liang Pan (Tpe)Row 43 - Cell 2
45Herwin Jaya (Ina) Psn0:06:41
46Nara Motoi (Jpn) Geumsan Ginseng AsiaRow 45 - Cell 2
47Arjen Ten Dam (Ned) NetherlandsRow 46 - Cell 2
48Kyle Marwood (Aus) Genesys Wealth AdvisersRow 47 - Cell 2
49Shih Hsin Hsiao (Tpe)Row 48 - Cell 2
50Young Uk Kim (Kor) Geumsan Ginseng AsiaRow 49 - Cell 2
51Wan Mohammed Najmee Wan Mohammed (Mas) MalaysiaRow 50 - Cell 2
52Yung Hua Cheng (Tpe)Row 51 - Cell 2
53Haan Wouter (Ned) NetherlandsRow 52 - Cell 2
54Mathew Cronshaw (Gbr) Rapha Condor - SharpRow 53 - Cell 2
55Bartlomiej Matysiak (Pol) Ccc Polsat PolkowiceRow 54 - Cell 2
56Ssu Ju Peng (Tpe)Row 55 - Cell 2
57Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Ckt Tmit - Champion SystemRow 56 - Cell 2
58Roman Krasilnikov (Rus) PsnRow 57 - Cell 2
59Chia Chun Chen (Tpe) ActRow 58 - Cell 2
60Nathan Haas (Aus) Genesys Wealth AdvisersRow 59 - Cell 2
61Cheng Chen Su (Tpe)Row 60 - Cell 2
62Wen Lung Chien (Tpe)Row 61 - Cell 2
63Masamichi Yamamoto (Jpn) Bridgestone AnchorRow 62 - Cell 2
64Adrian Honkisz (Pol) Ccc Polsat PolkowiceRow 63 - Cell 2
65Ivor Bruin (Ned) NetherlandsRow 64 - Cell 2
66Seiichi Koshinomi (Jpn) JapanRow 65 - Cell 2
67Tomasz Kiendys (Pol) Ccc Polsat PolkowiceRow 66 - Cell 2
68Jonathan Sundt (USA) Kenda Presented By Gear GrinderRow 67 - Cell 2
69Chad Burdzilauskas (USA) Kenda Presented By Gear GrinderRow 68 - Cell 2
70Jun-Oh Kwon (Kor) Geumsan Ginseng AsiaRow 69 - Cell 2
71Ali Ahmad Fallanie (Mas) MalaysiaRow 70 - Cell 2
72Ying Hon Yeung (HKg) Hong Kong, ChinaRow 71 - Cell 2
73Barati Rasoul (Iri) Giant Asia Racing TeamRow 72 - Cell 2
74Shinpei Fukuda (Jpn) Aisan Racing TeamRow 73 - Cell 2
75Tsun Kuei Chen (Tpe)0:06:43
76Shuai-Chun Chiang (Tpe)0:07:01
77Sergey Kudentsov (Rus) PsnRow 76 - Cell 2
78Taiji Nishitani (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team0:07:03
79Tomohiro Hayakawa (Jpn) Japan0:07:05
80Takumi Beppu (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team0:07:27
81Miyataka Shimizu (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor0:07:48
82Jong Kwang Kim (Kor) Geumsan Ginseng Asia0:08:24
83Dean Windsor (Aus) Rapha Condor - Sharp0:08:26
84Shinri Suzuki (Jpn) Shimano Racing0:08:40
85Graham Briggs (GBr) Rapha Condor - Sharp0:08:44
86Yoshiyuki Shimizu (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor0:09:01
87An Lung Hsieh (Tpe)0:09:05
88Chia Hong Yang (Tpe)0:11:33
89Tosser Chiu (Tpe)0:12:20
90Chia Hung Lin (Tpe)0:12:27
91Nonaka Ryoma (Jpn) Japan0:13:46
92Yoshinori Iino (Jpn) Shimano Racing0:15:16
93Nathan Earle (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers0:15:37
94Hari Fitrianto (Ina) Psn0:15:40
95Shinichi Fukushima (Jpn) Geumsan Ginseng Asia0:16:38

 

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