The Colombian Ivan Ramiro Sosa (Movistar) won the duel against Britain’s Hugh Carthy (EF Education-EasyPost) on the climb to Genting Highlands to take the third stage of the Tour of Langkawi, which started in Putrajaya, and become the new leader of the round.
bland, unstoppable
Press Team Movistar
Sosa, winner this year of the Vuelta a Asturias, was the strongest under a tremendous storm at times and persistent fog in the demanding final stretch, in which the ‘coffee growers’ runners played a major role.
The strategy went perfectly for the Movistar cyclist. He knew how to leave with Carthy and the Kazakh Andrew Zeits (Astana) in search of the runner who ruled until the penultimate climb, the Australian Caster Bettles (ARA Pro Racing Sunshine Coast) and then managed with power and sufficiency to prevail with a time of 3h25 :31 in the 124.2 kilometers of travel.
Before, he had tried to catch the ‘aussie’ cyclist, also Colombian Diego Andrése Camargo (EF Education-EasyPost), in order to prepare the final assault on Carthy, but he was caught by the group of favorites who did not give him a chance.
Just when the storm was strongest, with seven kilometers to go, Sosa, Carthy and Zeits caught up with Bettles. It didn’t take long for the Kazakh to get off the hook, so the victory was played by the Colombian and the British, since the group, despite the pace imposed, had no choice.
Sosa showed his good form, by enduring the British’s march and giving the final pull just over a kilometer away without Carthy being able to respond. The Colombian crossed the finish line 19 seconds ahead of the Briton, who is 23 seconds overall.
“We have been very attentive, running well as a team and I have been able to hold Carthy’s pace well in the second part of the climb, until the last kilometer, where I was able to accelerate a bit and go alone. Happy to end the year with these feelings ; to fight for the jersey!”, Said a happy Sosa.
Behind, the also Colombian from Movistar Einer Rubio won another tough fight to finish third at 1:56, ahead of his teammate from EF Education Esteban Chaves, fourth at 2:01.
In the general classification, the first is 2:02 and the second 2:11 behind the leader, respectively. The Argentine Eduardo Sepúlveda (Drone Hopper-Androni Giocattoli) was sixth at 2:14 and the Spanish Rubén Fernández (Cofidis) seventh at 2:20, while another of the great favorites, the Australian George Bennett (UAE Emirates) could not finish off the team’s work and finished tenth at 2:38.
This Friday the fourth stage will be played between Sabak Bernam and Meru Raya, practically flat, with 137.9 kilometers of route
EFE
More sports news
#Iván #Ramiro #Sosa #wins #queen #stage #Langkawi #climbs #lead