KUALA LUMPUR: Terengganu Polygon Cycling Team's (TSG) Jambaljamts Sainbayar moved up to third in the general classification (GC) after a strong performance in the third stage of the Tour of Thailand today.
The Mongolian rider placed a respectable 14th in the stage (195km) which featured a category two summit finish at Khao Yai National Park. He crossed the line in the same group (+5:13s) as yellow jersey holder Tegsh-bayar Batsaikhan (Roojai Online Insurance).
Sainbayar, who started the stage seventh in the GC, is now third overall 51s adrift of Batsaikhan. JCL Team Ukyo's Yuma Koishi is second (+43s) in the standings.
Almaty Astana Motors' Anton Kuzmin won the stage in 4:45:43s, with South Korea national team's Jang Kyung-Gu (+57s) and LX Cycling Team's Park Keon Woo (+5:03s) coming in second and third on the day.
The stage, however, did not go to plan for Team Sapura Cycling's riders who are racing in Malaysia national team colours in Thailand as part of their preparations for the upcoming Phnom Penh Sea Games (May 7-17).
Muhsin Al Redha Misbah was the highest placed Malaysian in the stage, crossing the line 32nd (+6:49s).
Teammate Nur Aiman Rosli, who started the day fourth in the GC, was well off the pace. He was forced to settle for 45th (+9:50s) in the stage which saw him drop to 16th (+5:23s) in the GC.
More changes in the GC are expected in the fourth stage tomorrow which will start at Khao Yai National Park and end in Aranyaprathet.
The stage will cover 203.2km — the longest in the tour this year — and feature another category two climb at Nakhon Ratchasima.