BINTULU: DSM-Firmenich PostNL rider Max Poole clinched his first-ever general classification (GC) victory after leaving no room for drama in the eighth and final stage of Petronas Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) today.
The final stage was a 147.5 kilometre loop of Bintulu which saw JCL Team Ukyo's Matteo Malucelli clinching his third stage win in this year's LTdL and also secured him victory in the orange jersey competition (sprinters classification).
Tudor Pro Cycling's Arvid de Kleijn was again forced to settle for second and surrendered the orange jersey while Astana Qazaqstan's Gleb Syritsa completed the podium for the stage.
Poole safely crossed the line 35th in the same group which allowed him to take home the green jersey (GC) with a 13 second advantage over second placed Thomas Pesenti (Ukyo). Equipo Kern Pharma's Unai Iribar (+20s) was third overall.
Four riders - Mow Ching Yin (HKSI Pro Cycling), Joshua Cranage (Ara Skip Capital), Yuhi Todome (EF Education-EasyPost) and Alex Tolio (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane) - were allowed to go up the road early on to contest the intermediate sprints but were reeled in well before the finish line.
The soft-spoken Poole, who went into green after winning in Cameron Highlands, was all smiles at the post-race presser.
"I achieved my first ever pro stage win during the third stage (Cameron Highlands) and now I have won the GC, so I am very happy," said the Englishman.
"We had to be sharp in the stages after Cameron Highlands to make sure we did not let anyone close (in GC) go and made sure nobody (dangerous) got close through time bonuses. We controlled the race well.
"It was a new experience for me racing here, not necessarily the hot weather - Vuelta was hotter - but the humidity. Everything felt a lot thicker."
Poole has been tipped to achieve great things in the sport. He impressed at Vuelta a Espana last month where he achieved podium finishes in four stages.
The 21-year-old, however, is not looking too far ahead into the future.
"Of course (this is a milestone) and I hope to take some confidence out of it and bring it to races over the coming years," said Poole.
"But I don't really look too much into the future. I just want to enjoy this win and relax after the season ends. I hope I have some future in stage racing, we just have to wait and see."
Malucelli was clearly pleased to end the tour with another stage win, dubbing it the "best week of his career".
The Italian secured the orange jersey on 80 points - just two more than de Kleijn.
"I arrived here (Malaysian) with the aim of winning at least one stage," said Malucelli.
"After winning one, I aimed for two and later on three. I did it and now I have even won the orange jersey. I am super happy because I won 10 races this year but my wins here were the best because LTdL is a high level race.
"It has been the best week of my career."
Mario Aparicio (Burgos-BH) had secured the climbers classification (polka dot jersey) victory yesterday on 27 points as there were no categorised climbs in the final stage.
Ukyo's Manabu Ishibashi won the Asian riders classification (white jersey) with his teammate Yuma Koishi coming in second (+2:41s). Aisan Racing Team's (Japan) Keigo Kasaba was third (+2:45s).
It was a relatively quiet day for the Malaysian teams who had actively been in the breakaways or at least attempted to join them throughout the week.
Malaysia Pro Cycling's (MPC) Ahmad Syazrin Awang Ilah, who crossed the line 20th today, was the highest placed Malaysian in the final stage.
MPC ended the tour in third place (+23:10s) in the Asian teams classification. Ukyo (Japan) were first with a combined time of 79:35:36s while Thailand National Team were second (+22:48s).
RESULTS AFTER STAGE EIGHT (FINAL STANDINGS)
Stage eight: 1. Matteo Malucelli (JCL Team Ukyo) 3:07:38s 2. Arvid de Kleijn (Tudor Pro Cycling) 3. Gleb Syritsa (Astana Qazaqstan) 4. Mattia Pinazzi (VF Group-Bardiani CSF-Faizane) 5. Manuel Penalver (Team Polti Kometa)--all same time.
General classification (green jersey): 1. Max Poole (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) 26:27:44s 2. Thomas Pesenti (JCL Team Ukyo) +13s 3. Unai Iribar (Equipo Kern Pharma) +20s 4. Fernando Tercero (Team Polti Kometa) 5. Anthon Charmig (Astana Qazaqstan) +20s.
Sprinters classification (orange jersey): 1 Matteo Malucelli (JCL Team Ukyo) 80pts 2. Arvid de Kleijn (Tudor Pro Cycling) 78 pts 3. Gleb Syritsa (Astana Qazaqstan) 57pts.
Climbers classification (polka dot jersey): 1 Mario Aparicio (Burgos-BH) 27pts 2. Max Poole (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) 22 pts 3. Anthon Charmig (Astana Qazaqstan) 12 pts
Asian riders classification (white jersey): 1. Manabu Ishibashi (JCL Team Ukyo) 26:30:02s 2. Yuma Koishi (JCL Team Ukyo) +2:41s 3. Keigo Kusaba (Aisan Racing Team) 2:45s
Team general classification: 1. Equipo Kern Pharma 79:24:12s 2. Astana Qazaqstan +1:31s 3. Team Polti Kometa +1:40s