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Monsalve takes stage, Corredor wrests yellow jersey from Ayabe

GENTING HIGHLANDS: Vene­zuelan Jonnatha Monsalve won Stage Five of the Tour of Langkawi from Tapah to Genting Highlands yesterday but Colombian Libardo Nino Corredor stole the limelight by wresting the yellow jersey from Japan’s Takeaki Ayabe.

The 43-year-old Corredor, the oldest rider on the Tour, was in the eight-man leading pack just one kilometre before the finish line at the summit when Monsalve decided to launch an attack.
Corredor followed suit but could not keep up with the Venezuelan, faltering just a few hundred metres before the finish line.

Loyal fan: A supporter with the Terengganu flag cheering on riders from the Terengganu Cycling team during Stage Five of the Tour of Langkawi in Genting Highlands yesterday. — Bernama
 
On Wednesday, Corredor suffered a similar fate when he was pipped to the finish line by Ayabe in the Ayer Tawar-Cameron Highlands stage.
Not only did the riders have to endure the brutal climb up Genting, they also had to contend with the rain, strong winds and fog.


Although Corredor is leading the individual general classification, Monsalve is within striking distance to wrest the yellow jersey with five stages to go as he is just two seconds behind the Colombian.
The 21-year-old Monsalve credited his success to conquering Genting to his team-mates, especially Emanuele Sella who helped him throughout the climb.

“I’m happy with the result today and I have to thank my team-mates for their good support,” said Monsalve.
“Right now I have to think about tomorrow because my time difference with Libardo (Corredor) is very close – just two seconds.”

Monsalve said he needed to discuss with team manager Gianni Savio about the team tactics for today’s race.
“Anyway, we still have five stages to go ... anything can happen,” said Monsalve.

“A lot of breakaways can take place and we have to work hard if we want to win the yellow jersey.”
Despite coming in second, Corredor can walk tall after creating history for team Le Tua – becoming the first ever rider to wear the yellow jersey since the team made their Tour debut five years ago.

“This will be my last race as a professional in a continental team. After this, I will return to Colombia and only race as an amateur,” said Corredor.

“As for today’s race, I’m very happy to have grabbed the yellow jersey although I came in second again. There will be five more flat stages after this and we have to work hard to defend the jersey.”
Le Tua coach Johari Nayan said the team still had a big task ahead as they only had a slim lead in the general classification.

Results
STAGE 5 (Tapah-Genting Highlands 124.3km)
Top 10 finishers: 1. Jonnatha Monsalve (Ven) Androni Giacottoli 3’33:31, 2. Libardo Nino Corredor (Col) Le Tua same time, 3. Mirsamad Pourseyedi (Iri) Azad University 1sec behind, 4. Dennis Van Niekerk (Rsa) MTN Qhubeka 3, 5. Rahim Emami (Iri) Azad University same time, 6. Emanuele Sella (Ita) Androni Giacottoli 5, 7. Morton Lachlan (Aus) Chipotle Development 8, 8. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago CSF-Inox 17, 9. Ghader Mizbani (Iri) Tabriz Petrochemical 31, 10.Gong Hyo-suk (Kor) South Korea 33.
Individual general classification (yellow jersey): 1. Libardo Nino Corredor (Col) Le Tua 15’59:46, 2. Jonnatha Monsalve (Ven) Androni Giacottoli 2secs behind, 3. Emanuelle Sella (Ita) Androni Giacottoli 19, 4. Dennis Van Niekerk (Rsa) MTN Qhubeka 22, 5. Rahim Emami (Iri) Azad University same time.
Points clasification (blue jersey): 1. Andrea Guardini (Ita) Fernese Vini-Neri Sottoli 51pts, 2. Anuar Manan (Mas) Terengganu Cycling 51, 3. Kevin Van Hummel (Ned) Skil Shimano 35, 4. Christoff Van Heerden (Rsa) MTN Qhubeka 34, 5. Boris Shpilevsky (Rus) Tabriz Petrochemical 30.
King of the Mountain (red jersey): 1. Jonnatha Monsalve (Ven) Androni Giacottoli 45pts, 2. Rahim Emami (Iri) Azad University 35, 3. Libardo Nino Corredor (Col) Le Tua 28, 4. Domenico Pozzovivo (Ita) Colnago CSF-Inox 25, 5. Albert Timmer (Ned) Skil Shimano 21.
Best Asian rider (white jersey): 1. Rahim Emami (Iri) Azad University 16’00:08, 2. Ghader Mizbani (Iri) Tabriz Petrochemical 28secs behind, 3. Gong Hyo-suk (Kor) South Korea 30, 4. Hossein Askari (Iri) Tabriz Petrochemical 31, 5. Amir Zargari (Iri) Azad University 1:32.


THIS stage will offer a much-needed respite for riders after two long and arduous days of climbing. Although riders will face a Category 4 climb just 7.6km into the race, it shouldn’t be much of a problem. Riders hunting for the blue jersey will come out to play again in this stage, with three intermediate sprints at Ulu Klang (Km26.3), Kajang (Km54.6) and Putrajaya (Km73.7). Another Category 4 climb at the Putrajaya Internationational Convention Centre (Km88.1) could lead to a breakaway for riders aiming for a stage win. After two days of staggered finish, a mass sprint fi nish is on the cards.

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