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LTdL: Guardini Takes Stage Three Despite Blazing Heat


BATU PAHAT, Feb 26 (Bernama) -- The blazing heat along the 187.60km from Melaka to Parit Sulong did not deter Italy's Andrea Guardini of the Farnese Vini-Selle Italia team to claim the third stage win in the 2012 Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) race.

The Italian young star, who also retained the blue jersey for the sprint competition, ended today's stage in 4 hours 30 minutes 11 seconds to claim his second stage win.

Finishing in a mass bunch in today's race, Guardini displayed his sprinting skills in the final kilometres to cross the finishing line first.

"With 10km to go, the Colnago riders tried to make the race difficult. They tried to push me to the back but my team mates helped me. They brought me back. My team worked very well again today just as I had wanted," said the 22-year-old rider.

Following him close at the finishing line were Netherland's Raymond Kreder of Garmin Barracuda and Malaysia's Anuar Manan of Champion System.

With today's results, Anuar will be the closest contender for the Blue Jersey after accumulating 26 points, just four points behind Guardini.

About three kilometres before the chequered flag, eight riders were involved in a crash and injured themselves.

Among them were Tom Danielson (Garmin Barracuda) and Malaysia's Mohd Harrif Salleh (Terengganu Cycling Team) and they have been accredited with the same time as the winner by the race Commissaire.

After three stages, United States' David Zabriskie retained the Yellow Jersey after accumulating 8'30:04s, while Drapac Cycling team rider Floris Goesinnen of the Netherlands retained the Red Jersey (King of the Mountain) with eight points.

Astana Pro Team's Dmitriy Gruzdev retained the White Jersey as the best Asian rider after three stages, while his team continued to top the leader board in the Asian Team Overall classification after accumulating 25'36:02s.

In the team general classification, Garmin Barracuda leads the pace with a time of 25'33:08s.

Stage Four tomorrow will be over a 169.4km course from Batu Pahat to Muar, with three sprint zones at Simpang Rengam, Air Hitam and Batu Pahat.
From Farhanah Azmi
-- BERNAMA

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