CAMERON HIGHLANDS: The money was on the more renowned climbers to conquer the Third Stage, the ride up Cameroon Highlands yesterday.But it was Credit Agricole’s Anthony Charteau who unexpectedly hit the jackpot to become the first Frenchman to wrest the yellow jersey in the Tour of Langkawi (LTdL).
Charteau was supposed to have set the pace for his team-mate and main rider, Francesco Bellotti. But he was so strong going up Cameron Highlands that he made it to the peak with more than three minutes to spare.
Among the other better-known climbers Charteau surprised were Jose Rujano (Unibet), defending champion David George (South Africa) and Jose Serpa (Selle Italia).
The 28-year-old Charteau completed the 133km stage, which was flagged off in Kuala Kangsar, in 3’40:45 – 3:54 ahead of Walter Pedraza of Selle Italia Serramenti PVC Diquigiovanni.
Charteau takes over the leader’s jersey from Maximiliano Richeze of Ceramiche Panaria.
“At the end of the day, it’s a very good result for the Credit Agricole team,” said Charteau.
“My initial plan was to accompany the breakaway riders and wait for the team leader (Bellotti) at the top of the first climb.
“But I reached it with such a huge gap that it was out of the question for me to wait. I had to go for it.”
Charteau was among five riders who broke away at the 28km mark.
But as they reached the foothills of Cameron Highlands, Slipstream’s Mike Creed dropped off, leaving Charteau with Koji Fukushima, Lee Win Jae and Yukiya Arashiro.
Charteau then stormed away just before the halfway point and went on to claim the stage.
“With so many riders well placed in the general classification, it’s going to be easier for us to control the situation,” said Charteau.
“I'm not worried about the flat stages because that is something we know how to do at Credit Agricole.
“With the advantage I have now, I have to think about the overall win but if I can’t make it in Genting Highlands, Bellotti will be there. The gradients suit him well.”
Credit Agricole’s success was later met with some disappointment when they learnt that Bellotti, second overall last year, and team-mate William Bonnet had been penalised for sheltering behind a vehicle.
Both were fined 33 Swiss francs and penalised 40 seconds. Bonnet and Bellotti finished sixth and seventh respectively but after the penalty, they were relegated to 25th and 26th positions in the stage results.
Bellotti, suffering from a bout of diarrhoea, had apparently stopped some time during the race to ease himself, and was trying to catch up with the rest of the riders when he was adjudged to have infringed the rules.
The 178km Fourth Stage today starts in Gua Musang and ends in Kota Baru.
Source: The Star
related post:
Tour De Langkawi at Cameron Highlands
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