Shahrul Mat Amin imitates Philippe Gilbert in front of Buddha statue
Pozdnyakov retains lead by one second over runner-up Sulzberger
Malaysia’s Shahrul Mat Amin proved the predictions wrong as he claimed stage 3 of the 25th Tour de Taiwan in front of the magnificent statue of Baguashan Buddha in Changhua. While Australian fast finishers were expected to win for the second day in a row, the 23-year-old from Terengganu Cycling Team rode away uphill with 250 metres to go and maintained just what was needed to prevent Bernard Sulzberger (Drapac) from overtaking him. Coming in second position for the second day in a row, the Tasmanian also moved up to second overall only one second down on stage 1 winner Kirill Pozdnyakov of Synergy Baku Cycling Project.
It appears that Asian cycling has found a Malaysian version of Philippe Gilbert in Shahrul. “I’m so happy to win here today,” Shahrul said. “I gave everything I had for those last 250 metres. My team-mate Saufi [Mat Senan] rode for me before the sprint. He’s normally our leader. He had to finish in the same time as everyone else to keep his ambitions for a final top 10 on GC. For me, this stage of the Tour de Taiwan is my first time winning a big race. Before that I only performed at category 2 level.”
In the past three seasons, the 2011 Malaysian national champion bagged stage victories at Jelajah Malaysia, Tour of Brunei and Tour d’Indonesia. In Taiwan, he demonstrated that it was by no coincidence that his Terengganu team won the 2012 Asia Tour. Under French coach Sébastien Duclos, they have taken a big step forward. “They were not totally satisfied with their results at Le Tour de Langkawi but I told them it would work as a good preparation for the Tour de Taiwan, so we came here with confidence and motivation,” Duclos told Cyclingnews in Changhua.
The other Asian hero of stage 3 was Feng Chun Kai of Champion System. Racing for a second consecutive win in the king of the mountains after an excellent showing that caught the attention of team manager Ed Beamon at this race last year, the 24-year-old Taiwanese made the first breakaway formed of nine riders before reaching ten kilometers of racing with Daniel Summerhill (Unitedhealthcare), Floris Goesinnen (Drapac), Jai Crawford (Huon-Genesys), Yoshimitsu Hiratsuka (Aisan), Jacques Janse van Rensburg (MTN-Qhubeka), Kohei Uchima (Japan), Qin Chen Lu (Max Success) and his fellow compatriot Wang Yin Chih (CCN).
Feng never gave up his hopes, even though the front group was caught at km 75 after getting a maximum lead of 3.40. He went on the attack again, initially with British veteran Lee Rodgers (CCN), to reach world champion for scratch race Martin Irvyne of Unitedhealthcare who, in the pure style of a pursuiter, was racing alone against the peloton with 25km to go. The dream of Feng and Irvyne fell apart with 4km to go.
The thrilling finale leaves all options open on GC for the remaining four stages of the Tour de Taiwan. “Shahrul got a well-deserved win,” said stage 2 winner Nathan Earle of Huon-Genesys. “Because of a few tactical errors, I was not well positioned but everything remains possible.” Race leader Pozdnyakov said he was “not worried” about the time bonuses that allowed Sulzberger to move to within one second of him on GC. “The smartest will win the race,” the Russian stated.
Results
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Mohd Shahrul Mat Amin (Mas) Terengganu Cycling Team | 3:15:33 |
2 | Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) DRAPAC Cycling | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
3 | Andreas Müller (Aut) ARBÖ-Gebrüder Weiss-Oberndorfer | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 | Adiq Othman (Mas) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
5 | Takeaki Ayabe (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
6 | Hayato Yoshida (Jpn) Shimano Racing Team | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
7 | Kirill Pozdnyakov (Rus) Synergy Baku Cycling Project Team | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
8 | Grischa Janorschke (Ger) NUTRIXXION ABUS | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Oddbjørn Klomtsen Andersen (Nor) Team Frøy-Bianchi | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 | Max Walsleben (Ger) NUTRIXXION ABUS | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 | Benjamin Edmüller (Ger) ARBÖ-Gebrüder Weiss-Oberndorfer | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | Luke Keough (USA) UnitedHealthCare Pro Cycling | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 | Mohammad Saufi Mat Senan (Mas) Terengganu Cycling Team | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
14 | Sirironnachai Sarawut (Tha) Thailand National Team | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
15 | Louis Meintjes (RSA) MTN Qhubeka | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Yuzuru Suzuki (Jpn) Shimano Racing Team | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 | Masakazu Ito (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Robbie Hucker (Aus) DRAPAC Cycling | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
19 | Muhammad Fauzan Ahmad Lufti (Mas) Malaysia National Team | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Po Hung Wu (Tpe) Team Senter - Merida | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 | Nathan Earle (Aus) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Adviser | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
22 | Ki Ho Choi (HKg) Team Hong Kong China | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
23 | Ian Bibby (GBr) Madison Genesis Team | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
24 | Tsgabu Grmay (Eth) MTN Qhubeka | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
25 | Sai-Udomsin Phuchong (Tha) Thailand National Team | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
26 | Sigurd Nesset (Nor) Team Frøy-Bianchi | Row 25 - Cell 2 |
27 | Hiroki Nishimura (Jpn) Japan National Team | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Anthony Giacoppo (Aus) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Adviser | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Hui Zhang (Chn) Max Success Sports Cycling Team | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
30 | Jai Crawford (Aus) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Adviser | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 | Liam Holohan (GBr) Madison Genesis Team | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Thomas Vaubourzeix (Fra) Team La Pomme Marseille | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Ryan Sherlock (Irl) Polygon Sweet Nice Team | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 | Yoshimitsu Hiratsuka (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | King Lok Cheung (HKg) Team Hong Kong China | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | David Clarke (GBr) Synergy Baku Cycling Project Team | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | Dirk Müller (Ger) NUTRIXXION ABUS | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Benjamin Giraud (Fra) Team La Pomme Marseille | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
39 | Morten Sandvik (Nor) Team Frøy-Bianchi | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
40 | Liphongyu Navuti (Tha) Thailand National Team | 0:00:17 |
41 | Chen Lu Qin (Chn) Max Success Sports Cycling Team | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
42 | Bradley White (USA) UnitedHealthCare Pro Cycling | 0:00:19 |
43 | Kun Hung Hung (Tpe) Team Senter - Merida | 0:00:21 |
44 | Yin Chih Wang (Tpe) CCN Cycling Team | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
45 | Burr Ho (HKg) Team Hong Kong China | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
46 | Hsin Hua Huang (Tpe) Team Senter - Merida | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
47 | Mohd Saiful Anwar Azis (Mas) Terengganu Cycling Team | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Boonratanathanakorn Thurakit (Tha) Thailand National Team | 0:00:24 |
49 | Mohd Nur Rizuan Zainal (Mas) Malaysia National Team | 0:00:26 |
50 | Lee Rodgers (GBr) CCN Cycling Team | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | John Kronborg Ebsen (Den) Synergy Baku Cycling Project Team | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Che Wei Hu (Tpe) Team Senter - Merida | 0:00:29 |
53 | Nur Arif Prayoga (Ina) Polygon Sweet Nice Team | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Jacques Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) MTN Qhubeka | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Halvor Tandrevold (Nor) Team Frøy-Bianchi | 0:00:32 |
56 | Yat Wai Chan (HKg) Team Hong Kong China | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Chun Wing Leung (HKg) Team Hong Kong China | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
58 | Brennan Townshend (GBr) Madison Genesis Team | 0:00:36 |
59 | Ahmad Fahmi Farhan Ahmad Fuat (Mas) Malaysia National Team | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 | Ohko Shimizu (Jpn) Japan National Team | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | Mohd Nor Umardi Rosdi (Mas) Terengganu Cycling Team | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Christoph Scweizer (Ger) Synergy Baku Cycling Project Team | 0:00:40 |
63 | Jakub Kratochvila (Cze) ARBÖ-Gebrüder Weiss-Oberndorfer | 0:00:42 |
64 | Petr Lechner (Cze) ARBÖ-Gebrüder Weiss-Oberndorfer | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
65 | Hao Liu (Chn) Max Success Sports Cycling Team | 0:00:46 |
66 | Mark Dowling (Irl) Polygon Sweet Nice Team | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
67 | Masahiko Yasui (Jpn) Shimano Racing Team | 0:00:52 |
68 | Shimpei Fukuda (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | 0:00:56 |
69 | Johann Van Zyl (RSA) MTN Qhubeka | 0:01:04 |
70 | Christopher Jenninngs (RSA) Team La Pomme Marseille | 0:01:06 |
71 | Floris Goesinnen (Ned) DRAPAC Cycling | 0:01:09 |
72 | Takero Terasaki (Jpn) Japan National Team | 0:01:13 |
73 | En Huang (Chn) Max Success Sports Cycling Team | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
74 | Anuar Manan (Mas) Synergy Baku Cycling Project Team | 0:01:15 |
75 | Yue Peng Liu (Chn) Max Success Sports Cycling Team | Row 74 - Cell 2 |
76 | Mart Ojavee (Est) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | Row 75 - Cell 2 |
77 | Yi Hao Tseng (Tpe) Team Senter - Merida | 0:01:19 |
78 | Kohei Uchima (Jpn) Japan National Team | Row 77 - Cell 2 |
79 | Chun Kai Feng (Tpe) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | Row 78 - Cell 2 |
80 | Dominic Jelfs (Irl) Madison Genesis Team | 0:01:22 |
81 | Zachary Bell (Can) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | 0:01:31 |
82 | Yasuharo Nakajima (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | 0:01:44 |
83 | Benjamin Sydlik (Ger) NUTRIXXION ABUS | 0:01:50 |
84 | Thomas Palmer (Aus) DRAPAC Cycling | 0:01:55 |
85 | Rick Ampler (Ger) NUTRIXXION ABUS | 0:01:59 |
86 | Fabian Schnaidt (Ger) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | 0:02:02 |
87 | Gordon Mccauley (NZl) DRAPAC Cycling | 0:02:06 |
88 | Shotaro Iribe (Jpn) Shimano Racing Team | 0:02:15 |
89 | Ryoma Nonaka (Jpn) Shimano Racing Team | Row 88 - Cell 2 |
90 | Andrew Tennant (GBr) Madison Genesis Team | 0:02:18 |
91 | Daniel Summerhill (USA) UnitedHealthCare Pro Cycling | 0:02:39 |
92 | Jonathan Clarke (Aus) UnitedHealthCare Pro Cycling | Row 91 - Cell 2 |
93 | Martyn Irvine (Irl) UnitedHealthCare Pro Cycling | 0:03:24 |
94 | Patrick Shaw (Aus) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Adviser | 0:04:02 |
95 | Joseph Cooper (NZl) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Adviser | Row 94 - Cell 2 |
96 | Dennis Van Niekerk (RSA) MTN Qhubeka | 0:05:20 |
DNF | Yordsuwan Setthawut (Tha) Thailand National Team | Row 96 - Cell 2 |
# | Rider Name (Country) Team | Result |
---|---|---|
1 | Kirill Pozdnyakov (Rus) Synergy Baku Cycling Project Team | 9:24:07 |
2 | Bernard Sulzberger (Aus) DRAPAC Cycling | 0:00:01 |
3 | Nathan Earle (Aus) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Adviser | 0:00:03 |
4 | Oddbjørn Klomtsen Andersen (Nor) Team Frøy-Bianchi | 0:00:09 |
5 | Ki Ho Choi (HKg) Team Hong Kong China | 0:00:13 |
6 | Masakazu Ito (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | 0:00:19 |
7 | Mohammad Saufi Mat Senan (Mas) Terengganu Cycling Team | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
8 | Tsgabu Grmay (Eth) MTN Qhubeka | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Adiq Othman (Mas) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | 0:00:25 |
10 | Louis Meintjes (RSA) MTN Qhubeka | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 | Sigurd Nesset (Nor) Team Frøy-Bianchi | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | King Lok Cheung (HKg) Team Hong Kong China | 0:00:26 |
13 | Robbie Hucker (Aus) DRAPAC Cycling | 0:00:30 |
14 | Sai-Udomsin Phuchong (Tha) Thailand National Team | 0:00:31 |
15 | David Clarke (GBr) Synergy Baku Cycling Project Team | 0:00:36 |
16 | Jai Crawford (Aus) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Adviser | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 | Yuzuru Suzuki (Jpn) Shimano Racing Team | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Ian Bibby (GBr) Madison Genesis Team | 0:00:38 |
19 | Anthony Giacoppo (Aus) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Adviser | 0:00:40 |
20 | Liam Holohan (GBr) Madison Genesis Team | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 | Yoshimitsu Hiratsuka (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
22 | Morten Sandvik (Nor) Team Frøy-Bianchi | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
23 | Po Hung Wu (Tpe) Team Senter - Merida | 0:00:51 |
24 | Hui Zhang (Chn) Max Success Sports Cycling Team | 0:00:59 |
25 | Chen Lu Qin (Chn) Max Success Sports Cycling Team | 0:01:01 |
26 | Muhammad Fauzan Ahmad Lufti (Mas) Malaysia National Team | 0:01:07 |
27 | Ryan Sherlock (Irl) Polygon Sweet Nice Team | 0:01:10 |
28 | Mark Dowling (Irl) Polygon Sweet Nice Team | 0:01:11 |
29 | John Kronborg Ebsen (Den) Synergy Baku Cycling Project Team | 0:01:12 |
30 | Sirironnachai Sarawut (Tha) Thailand National Team | 0:01:18 |
31 | Christoph Scweizer (Ger) Synergy Baku Cycling Project Team | 0:01:29 |
32 | Halvor Tandrevold (Nor) Team Frøy-Bianchi | 0:01:34 |
33 | Dirk Müller (Ger) NUTRIXXION ABUS | 0:01:35 |
34 | Hao Liu (Chn) Max Success Sports Cycling Team | 0:01:39 |
35 | Boonratanathanakorn Thurakit (Tha) Thailand National Team | 0:01:42 |
36 | Kun Hung Hung (Tpe) Team Senter - Merida | 0:01:49 |
37 | Benjamin Giraud (Fra) Team La Pomme Marseille | 0:02:08 |
38 | Andreas Müller (Aut) ARBÖ-Gebrüder Weiss-Oberndorfer | 0:02:09 |
39 | Yat Wai Chan (HKg) Team Hong Kong China | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
40 | Lee Rodgers (GBr) CCN Cycling Team | 0:02:10 |
41 | Christopher Jenninngs (RSA) Team La Pomme Marseille | 0:02:16 |
42 | Mohd Saiful Anwar Azis (Mas) Terengganu Cycling Team | 0:02:17 |
43 | Mohd Shahrul Mat Amin (Mas) Terengganu Cycling Team | 0:02:27 |
44 | En Huang (Chn) Max Success Sports Cycling Team | 0:02:29 |
45 | Hsin Hua Huang (Tpe) Team Senter - Merida | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
46 | Mohd Nor Umardi Rosdi (Mas) Terengganu Cycling Team | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
47 | Takeaki Ayabe (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | 0:02:34 |
48 | Hayato Yoshida (Jpn) Shimano Racing Team | 0:02:37 |
49 | Floris Goesinnen (Ned) DRAPAC Cycling | 0:02:55 |
50 | Chun Kai Feng (Tpe) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | 0:03:07 |
51 | Johann Van Zyl (RSA) MTN Qhubeka | 0:03:12 |
52 | Ohko Shimizu (Jpn) Japan National Team | 0:03:22 |
53 | Jonathan Clarke (Aus) UnitedHealthCare Pro Cycling | 0:03:25 |
54 | Benjamin Edmüller (Ger) ARBÖ-Gebrüder Weiss-Oberndorfer | 0:03:26 |
55 | Ryoma Nonaka (Jpn) Shimano Racing Team | 0:03:28 |
56 | Grischa Janorschke (Ger) NUTRIXXION ABUS | 0:03:39 |
57 | Jakub Kratochvila (Cze) ARBÖ-Gebrüder Weiss-Oberndorfer | 0:03:41 |
58 | Thomas Vaubourzeix (Fra) Team La Pomme Marseille | 0:04:07 |
59 | Masahiko Yasui (Jpn) Shimano Racing Team | 0:04:14 |
60 | Petr Lechner (Cze) ARBÖ-Gebrüder Weiss-Oberndorfer | 0:04:16 |
61 | Yin Chih Wang (Tpe) CCN Cycling Team | 0:04:29 |
62 | Zachary Bell (Can) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | 0:04:57 |
63 | Kohei Uchima (Jpn) Japan National Team | 0:04:59 |
64 | Liphongyu Navuti (Tha) Thailand National Team | 0:05:11 |
65 | Anuar Manan (Mas) Synergy Baku Cycling Project Team | 0:05:52 |
66 | Dennis Van Niekerk (RSA) MTN Qhubeka | 0:06:06 |
67 | Max Walsleben (Ger) NUTRIXXION ABUS | 0:07:04 |
68 | Patrick Shaw (Aus) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Adviser | 0:07:26 |
69 | Nur Arif Prayoga (Ina) Polygon Sweet Nice Team | 0:07:27 |
70 | Bradley White (USA) UnitedHealthCare Pro Cycling | 0:07:57 |
71 | Luke Keough (USA) UnitedHealthCare Pro Cycling | 0:08:52 |
72 | Yue Peng Liu (Chn) Max Success Sports Cycling Team | 0:08:56 |
73 | Burr Ho (HKg) Team Hong Kong China | 0:09:13 |
74 | Benjamin Sydlik (Ger) NUTRIXXION ABUS | 0:09:22 |
75 | Thomas Palmer (Aus) DRAPAC Cycling | 0:09:36 |
76 | Dominic Jelfs (Irl) Madison Genesis Team | 0:10:01 |
77 | Mart Ojavee (Est) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | 0:10:07 |
78 | Yasuharo Nakajima (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | 0:10:08 |
79 | Che Wei Hu (Tpe) Team Senter - Merida | 0:10:34 |
80 | Fabian Schnaidt (Ger) Champion System Pro Cycling Team | 0:10:53 |
81 | Yi Hao Tseng (Tpe) Team Senter - Merida | 0:11:04 |
82 | Gordon Mccauley (NZl) DRAPAC Cycling | 0:11:05 |
83 | Andrew Tennant (GBr) Madison Genesis Team | 0:11:10 |
84 | Rick Ampler (Ger) NUTRIXXION ABUS | 0:11:29 |
85 | Joseph Cooper (NZl) Huon Salmon-Genesys Wealth Adviser | 0:11:35 |
86 | Jacques Janse Van Rensburg (RSA) MTN Qhubeka | 0:11:45 |
87 | Takero Terasaki (Jpn) Japan National Team | 0:12:56 |
88 | Brennan Townshend (GBr) Madison Genesis Team | 0:13:10 |
89 | Ahmad Fahmi Farhan Ahmad Fuat (Mas) Malaysia National Team | 0:13:14 |
90 | Hiroki Nishimura (Jpn) Japan National Team | 0:13:51 |
91 | Martyn Irvine (Irl) UnitedHealthCare Pro Cycling | 0:14:13 |
92 | Shimpei Fukuda (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | 0:15:12 |
93 | Mohd Nur Rizuan Zainal (Mas) Malaysia National Team | 0:15:36 |
94 | Chun Wing Leung (HKg) Team Hong Kong China | 0:16:34 |
95 | Daniel Summerhill (USA) UnitedHealthCare Pro Cycling | 0:17:50 |
96 | Shotaro Iribe (Jpn) Shimano Racing Team | 0:20:41 |
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