Between some of the superstars from the Tour de France with their full 8 rider teams, the Trek – Marco Polo Cycling Team competed in Bochum, Germany on a hard hilly city circuit.
Malaysian Loh Sea Keong with Mark Cavendish before the start in Bochum. (Photo. Francis Cerny)
When Columbia started to take over control, when a small break-away was a few minutes ahead, big parts of the peloton were dropped and left behind. Going into the final 40 K we still had 4 riders in the first group. Then the cold rain and high tempo took it’s toll on a group with our sprinter Haidar Anuawar. We still had James Spragg, Jacques Janse van Rensburg and Jaco Venter in the first bunch. In the last 20 K the Protour teams of Milram and Columbia put up the tempo and the left-overs from the peloton had a mass-sprint. Jaco Venter was with the first few riders, but could not get in position between the teamwork of the Tour de France riders and had to be satisfied with a 26th place. It was Cavendish who won ahead of Ciolek.
Malaysian Haidar Anuawar sprinted to a 2nd place in the hilly Uni-Radrennen in Wuppertal, Germany. With several continental team riders there was a strong competition in this well known race in the strongest region of racing in Germany.
Haidar Anuawar, Trek – Marco Polo Cycling Team sprinting to a close 2nd place in Wuppertal (Germany) Photo: Gerd Ramme
Haidar Anuawar, at the podium for his 2nd place in Wuppertal (Germany), third is Joachim Tolles and winner Robert Sydlik. Photo: Gerd Ramme
Li Fuyu of Trek-Marco Polo became the ‘hero of the day’ in the prologue of Tour of Qinghai Lake. His 2nd place between seasoned professionals Mizourov and Hondo is a spectacular result for a Chinese rider.
Mizourov of Tabriz Petrochemical team won the prologue. It took Mizourov 5 minutes 41 seconds to cover the 4.8 kilometre course in Xining (just over 50 km/h average). Li Fuyu’s time was 5 minutes 48. Danilo Hondo rounded up the podium, with a 3rd place I 5 minutes 50.
