BENTONG: After a slow start to the tour, Tudor Pro Cycling's Arvid de Kleijn finally came good in the fourth stage of Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) today.
De Kleijn, who is nicknamed 'Little Gorilla', outkicked stage two winner Matteo Malucelli (JCL Team Ukyo) to the line to clinch the win in two hours, 53 minutes and 37 seconds. Team Polti Kometa's Manuel Penalver completed the podium.
It was, however, a nervous end to the stage, which started in Kuala Kubu Bharu and ended at Dataran Benton (131.2km), for both the sprinters' teams as well as that of green jersey wearer Max Poole (DSM-Firmenich PostNL).
This is because a breakaway group, composed of six riders, could only be caught within the final 300 metres of the race.
Arvid, who won two stages in LTdL last year, was relieved to take his first win in LTdL this season.
"It feels great to win again. We have been searching for this win. I was responsible for us not winning in the first two stages due to some mistakes.
"The guys did an incredible job today, it was very close. We sacrificed everyone in the team to catch the breakaway and then Maikel (Zijlaard) put me in a good position for the sprint.
"I think I have been in good form this year but sprinting here is very different from in Europe, we had to adjust our tactics but I believe we have found it (rhythm) now.
"Hopefully we can continue doing well in the coming stages."
Poole, who won the third third stage (Taiping to Cameron Highlands) yesterday, remain in charge of the green jersey (general classification) with a six second lead over JCL Team Ukyo's Thomas Pesenti.
Astana Qazaqstan's Harold Lopez, who was second across the line in Cameron Highlands, was slapped with a 20 second time penalty, points penalties and also fined for drafting behind a car during the fourth stage today.
Many riders were still fatigued after the tough climb in Cameron Highlands and struggled in today's stage which featured a category one climb at The Gap in Fraser's Hill.
Close to 20 riders missed the time cut and will thus not compete in the remainder of the tour.
Among the casualties include overall defending champion Simon Carr (EF Education-EasyPost), Ara Skip Capital's Tyler Tomkinson, who held the polka dot jersey after the first stage and Team Corratec-Vini Fantini's Jakub Mareczko, who is a four-time LTdL stage winner.
Malaysian riders were not spared either as Terengganu Cycling Team (TSG) sprinter Harrif Saleh, Zulhelmi Zainal (Nusantara Cycling) and Malaysia Pro Cycling (MPC) duo Izzat Hilmi Abdul Halil and Fahmi Khairul were all shown the exit.
The fifth stage, which starts in Kuala Lumpur and ends in Melaka tomorrow, will also be tough with three categorised climbs in Ampang, Bukit Hantu (both category two) and Bukit Mantin (category three).
There will also be three intermediate sprints at Semenyih, Seremban and Rembau.
STAGE FOUR RESULTS:
Stage four: 1. Arvid de Kleijn (Tudor Pro Cycling) 2:53:37s 2. Matteo Malucelli (JCL Team Ukyo) 3. Manuel Penalver (Team Polti Kometa) 4. Mattia Pinazzi (VF Group-Bardiani-CSF Faizane) 5. Gleb Syritsa (Astana Qazaqstan) -- all same time
General classification (green jersey): 1. Max Poole (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) 12:57:35s 2. Thomas Pesenti (JCL Team Ukyo) +6s 3. Unai Iribar (Equipo Kern Pharma) +11s 4. Fernando Tercero (Team Polti Kometa) +11s 5. Ibon Ruiz (Equipo Kern Pharma) +11s
Climbers classification (polka dot jersey): 1 Mario Aparicio (Burgos-BH) 20pts 2. Max Poole (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) 15 pts 3. Anthon Charmig (Astana Qazaqstan) 12 pts
Sprinters classification (orange jersey): 1. Matteo Malucelli (JCL Team Ukyo) 34 points 2. Arvid de Kleijn (Tudor Pro Cycling) 30 pts 3. Gleb Syritsa (Astana Qazaqstan) 26 pts
Asian riders classification (white jersey): 1. Manabu Ishibashi (JCL Team Ukyo) 12:59:44s 2. Yuma Koishi (JCL Team Ukyo) +2:41s 3. Keigo Kusaba (Aisan Racing Team) +2:45s