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Ayabe ungguli pendakian Cameron Highlands


Takeaki Ayabe melepasi garisan penamat untuk menjuarai peringkat keempat Le Tour de Langkawi dari Ayer Tawar ke Cameron Highlands, semalam. - utusan/Izham Jaafar

CAMERON HIGHLANDS - Pelumba pasukan Aisan Racing Team, Takeaki Ayabe melakukan kejutan pada peringkat keempat Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) 2011 apabila menjadi pelumba pertama melintasi garisan penamat di Tanah Rata sekali gus membolehkannya menyarung jersi kuning.

Ketika tumpuan diberikan kepada pelumba Amerika Selatan dan Itali, Ayabe mempamerkan kayuhan bertenaga pada 500 meter terakhir apabila mengejar sembilan pelumba yang berada di depannya untuk meraih tempat pertama dengan catatan tiga jam 42 minit 15 saat.

Pelumba veteran, LeTua Cycling Team (L2A), Libardo Nino Corredor pula menamatkan saingan di tempat kedua manakala Amir Zagari daripada Azad University Cycling Team (IUA) di tempat ketiga.
Keputusan itu membakar semangatnya menjelang perlumbaan peringkat kelima dari Tapah ke Genting Highlands hari ini.

Menurutnya, dia tidak menyangka mampu menawan puncak Cameron Highlands, apatah lagi terpaksa 'bertarung' dengan cuaca berhujan selain kabus yang tebal ketika menuju ke garisan penamat.
"Pada jarak 500 meter terakhir, saya berada di kelompok depan yang melibatkan 10 pelumba. Ketika itu, saya hanya fokus dan memecut laju tanpa memikirkan keadaan di sekeliling walaupun keadaan jalan agak licin," katanya pada sidang akhbar selepas tamat perlumbaan, semalam.

Jelasnya, dia cukup gembira dengan kemenangan itu kerana dapat menewaskan pelumba-pelumba lain yang sememangnya cukup terkenal sebagai pakar bukit.


"Saya dan rakan-rakan sepasukan belum merancang sebarang strategi bagi menghadapi misi paling getir, menakluk puncak Genting Highlands esok (hari ini) melibatkan laluan sejauh 124.3 kilometer.
"Saya hanya berharap dapat mengekalkan konsistensi pada perlumbaan esok dan berazam untuk sekali lagi mencipta kejutan ke atas pelumba-pelumba handalan yang lain," kata ketua pasukan Aisan itu.

Ayabe berkata, jika dia dapat menempatkan diri dalam kelompok pelumba di hadapan di Genting Highlands, peluang untuk muncul juara pasti lebih terbuka buatnya saya.

Sementara itu, pelumba pasukan Fernese Vini-Neri Sottoli, Andrea Guardini terpaksa menelan hakikat Jersi Kuning yang disarungnya sebelum ini diserahkan kepada Ayabe.

Bagaimanapun, Guardini masih bernasib baik kerana Jersi Biru (Raja Pecut) kekal menjadi miliknya.
"Peringkat keempat bukan sasaran sebenar saya tetapi saya tetap gembira dengan prestasi saya hari ini. Saya akan cuba melakukan yang lebih baik pada saingan di Genting Highlands nanti," kata Guardini yang menamatkan perlumbaan semalam di tempat ke-94.

Selain Jersi Kuning yang telah bertukar tangan semalam, Jersi Merah (Raja Bukit) dan Jersi Putih (pelumba terbaik Asia) turut berubah.

Pelumba IUA, Rahim Emami kini pemegang baru Jersi Merah yang sebelum ini menjadi milik pelumba pasukan Skil Shimano Cycling Team, Koen de Kort.

Pelumba sensasi negara, Anuar Manan yang menggalas cabaran pasukan Terengganu ProAsia Cycling (TSG) pula terpaksa menyerahkan Jersi Putih kepada Ayabe.


Oleh FERZALFIE FAUZI
ferzalfie.fauzi@utusan.com.my

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