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LTdL Stage 10: Gallant Selle Italia Get Standing Ovation

A rare honour was given to the Colombia Selle Italia outfit yesterday, for their gallant fighting performance in the Telekom Malaysia Le Tour de Langkawi (LTdL).

There weren't any prizes, but a standing ovation from the crowd as the team was called on stage for a presentation as the most combative team on the Tour at the finish yesterday.

For the first time in four years, Colombia Selle Italia have gone home empty handed, finishing second in all categories they challenged for.

But a gritty performance from young Jose Rujano, and the huge confidence the experienced team had in their 22-year old team leader, earned them that recognition.

For Colombia Selle Italia fought hard, trying out all possibilities.

When Rujano was edged at the Genting climb on Stage Eight, the only option was an all-out attack on Stage Nine, and they gave new meaning to the word "all-out".

With Rujano trying, and marked tightly by Ryan Cox's Barloworld teammates, team manager Gianni Savio sent Marlon Perez, then three minutes down from Cox in the general classification (GC), on a gallant solo breakaway.

Perez was caught, and the team were down.

"I am satisfied with the boys, because we tried, tried and we tried again. And this is cycling. If the organisers chose to honour us as the most combative team, well at least we did something," said Savio.

"So, I am telling you now that we will come back next year. And we will come back to win with Rujano."

The team have won the yellow jersey twice, through Hernan Dario Munoz in 2002 and Freddy Gonzalez last year, when Ruber Alveiro Marin also bagged the King of the Mountains jersey. In 2003, they won the team title.

Kuala Lumpur 7/2/2005