langkawi magazine

Archives SECTION

LTdL Stage 8: Cox Wins Uphill Battle

Barloworld's Ryan Cox pipped Colombia Selle Italia's Jose Rujano in a photo finish for Stage Eight of the Telekom Malaysia Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL) yesterday.

It was the closest finish up Genting yet, but in claiming the yellow jersey from Koji Fukushima, South African national champion Cox, holds just an 18-second lead over Rujano going into Stage Nine today.

The promise of an all-out attack from Colombia Selle Italia was realised with Rujano accelerating ahead of the pack 20 times throughout the 96.9 kilometre stage, which began in Kuala Kubu Baru.

"Thankfully I got a good time trial in Stage Four, which put him (Rujano) behind me. So, it was up to him to attack me here, and there was no way he was going to drop me here today (yesterday)," said Cox.

Cox and Rujano were part of a 22-man lead pack when they reached the foot of the climb, led by Navigators' Cesar Grajales, and then Rujano's teammate Marlon Perez. But five kilometres from the finish, it was evident that it was either Cox or Rujano who would win.

There was some disbelief from Rujano at the finish line as he almost crashed into an organiser's car parked less than 10 metres after the finish line.

This could have affected the sprint to the finish with Rujano and Cox side-by-side and the 22-year-old Venezuelan said he had to slow down before the finish line to avoid a collision with that car.

After four days in the limelight, Bridgestone-Anchor's Koji, saw his yellow jersey taken away by Cox, and after the big climb up Genting, he is now just six seconds ahead of Tonton Susanto in the Asian Riders' classification.

"I started today (yesterday) trying to defend the yellow jersey but Cox was simply too strong. We will go to Europe after this and prepare ourselves. Next year, we want to win the overall title," said Koji.

The fight in the general classification (GC) isn't yet concluded as a tough, wavy 164.8km route from the Kuala Lumpur Tower to Putrajaya awaits the peloton for Stage Nine today.

Genting, Malaysia 5/2/2005