Supporters cheering on the riders during the fifth stage of the LTDL from Tapah to Genting Highlands yesterday. — Bernama picture
Venezuelan Monsalve wasn't the favourite to win Stage Five from Tapah to Genting Highlands, as most eyes were on Colnago-CSF's Italian Domenico Pozzovivo, who fell flat of expectations by finishing seventh.
Nino, who had also finished second to Japan's Takeaki Ayabe of the Aisan Racing Team in the previous stage, found out with three kilometres of climbing to go that he was within striking distance of the overall lead.
That was when he was part of the decisive group of eight riders between whom victory and the general classification (GC) lead would be contested, with the rest of the pack left to soldier their way up the wet roads that led to the summit.
Pozzovivo and the two Androni riders -- Monsalve and Emanuele Sella -- had moved up to lead the group, which had caught up with sole leader Pierre Rolland of Team Europcar, who had dropped South Korea's Jang Kyung Gu after the two had mounted the first attack at the foot of the climb.
Nino was well in the picture, along with Iran's Rahim Emami of the Azad University Team who would eventually take the Asian riders' classification lead.
Entering the final metres, it came down to a sprint up the climb and to the slight downhill finish and Monsalve did enough to pip Nino for the victory, as both finished equal on time. But the Colombian's advantage from the day before meant he held a slim two-second advantage to take the yellow jersey.
"Honestly, when I came to Malaysia, I didn't know what to expect. But I found that it is a beautiful country and the people have been helping me all the way," said Nino, 42, who could emerge as the oldest winner of LTdL.
"This increases my motivation to win the race. This will be the last international race of my career as after this I return to Colombia and will only compete in amateur races there, so I know my team will do everything to get this victory.
"In the coming five stages, we will have to pay a lot of attention to those close by in the GC, as the margin is very slim. It is very tight, but I'm hopeful of winning the overall title."
The next five stages offer the unexpected for LeTua, the little team based in Kampung Baru Subang, Selangor, as they try to defend the lead for their Colombian veteran against the top guns from Giro d'Italia Androni Giocattoli, who have charismatic LTdL veteran Gianni Savio as team manager.
"Savio arrived yesterday (Wednesday) from Argentina and the first thing he told me was that I can win today (yesterday), so I followed instructions. Our tactic was to stay on the wheel of Pozzovivo and then bring it to a sprint at the finish," said Monsalve, 22, in his debut race as a professional.
"In the next five stages, I will try to sprint to get the time bonuses from the intermediate sprints and make up the deficit."
The five stages begin with the 107km Stage Six from Rawang to Putrajaya today.
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