NUR Amirull Fakhruddin Mazuki gave Malaysian fans much to cheer about after taking charge of the yellow jersey following a spectacular win in the third stage of the inaugural Tour of Peninsular (ToP) yesterday.
The Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) rider launched an early attack with Iranian Amir Kolahdouz Hagh (Taiyuan Miogee Cycling Team) roughly 70km into the 172.7km stage.
The two-man breakaway would, much to the disbelief of everyone watching, stick until the end with Amirull clinching the win in three hours, 49 minutes and 59 seconds and Amir a close second.
Amirull's TSG teammate Harrif Saleh, who was part of the chasing pack, for the second day in a row sneaked onto the podium in third, 11 seconds behind the front two.
The result, including a 10-second win bonus, saw Amirull drawing level with Azerbaijan national rider Elchin Asadov atop the general classification (GC) though the former is in charge of the yellow jersey, thanks to his better finishing position results.
He also led the Asian and points classifications.
Amirul, who won the overall title at the Tour de Siak (UCI2.2) last month, admitted that he himself did not believe he could win it.
“The strategy (yesterday) was to have one TSG rider in the breakaway, so our climbers could have an easy day as we knew the other teams would work to reel the break in,” said Amirull.
“I attacked with Amir at about 70km into the stage and for the first 10km (into the break), I did not have any confidence that we could maintain it until the end.
“But Amir and I both have experienced doing breakaways from this distance and had planned a strategy. We decided that we would keep a relatively easy pace until the final 40 to 50km, then we would go full gas.”
However, the 27-year-old downplayed his chances of keeping the yellow jersey until the end of the tour. The race is likely to be decided in the queen stage today which starts at Sungai Koyan and finishes up in Cameron Highlands.
“I am not really a climber but we do have two riders in the team who can climb, Metkel Eyob (Eritrea) and Artem Ovechkin (Russia). And they are just 32 seconds behind (in GC),” added Amirull.
“The early plan is for me to work for them in (today) stage. It’s a team effort and we have to support those who have the better chances.
“I will try but if I can't keep the yellow, then I will try to retain the blue (points classification) and white jerseys (Asian classification).”
After yesterday's heroics, it remains to be seen whether Amirull will have enough left in his legs to maintain his lead in the fourth stage today which features a tough category one climb at Ringlet (1,104m elevation) and an even harder hors categorie climb to the finish at Tanah Rata (1,440m).
RESULTS — Stage 3, Kuantan to Karak 172.7km: 1 Nur Amirull Fakhruddin Mazuki (Malaysia) Terengganu Cycling Team 3:49:59s, 2 Amir Kolahdouz Hagh (Iran) Taiyuan Miogee Cycling team (same time), 3 Harrif Saleh (Malaysia) Terengganu Cycling Team, 4 Mahdi Nateghi (Iran) Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan, 5 Dominic Perez (Philippines) 7Eleven Cliqq-Air21 by Roadbikes Philippines (all +11s).
General classification: 1 Nur Amirull Fakhruddin Mazuki (Malaysia) Terengganu Cycling Team 11:18:09s, 2 Elchin Asadov, Azerbaijan National Team (same time), 3 Christian Raileanu (Moldova) Team Sapura Cycling +4s, 4 Danieal Haikkal Edy Suhaidee, Malaysia National Team +6s, 5 Igor Chzhan, (Kazakhstan), Vino-Astana Motors +10s.
Asian classification: 1 Nur Amirull Fakhruddin Mazuki (Malaysia) Terengganu Cycling Team 11:18:09s, 2 Danieal Haikkal Edy Suhaidee, Malaysia National Team +6s, 3 Igor Chzhan, (Kazakhstan), Vino-Astana Motors +10s.
Points classification: 1 Nur Amirull Fakhruddin Mazuki (Malaysia) Terengganu Cycling Team 44pts, 2 Rohan Du Plooy (South Africa) Protouch 41pts, 3 Harrif Saleh (Malaysia) Terengganu Cycling Team 34pts.
Mountains classification: 1 Aiman Cahyadi (Indonesia) PGN Road Cycling team 10pts, 2 Nur Aiman Zariff (Malaysia) Team Sapura Cycling 8pts, 3 Amirhossein Jamshidian Ghlehsefidi (Iran) Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan 2pts.