The Marco Polo Cycling Team can look back at a successful Tour of Thailand. Brad Hall was doing very well on GC, just a split second away from the yellow jersey with only one stage to go. In the last stage a group managed to get away and took just 20 seconds too many on the field for Brad to win the Tour. He finished 6th overall. Other successes were the 2nd place in stage 5 of Brad, and 2 times a 4th place and 4 top ten placings for Haidar Anuawar. Haidar also became 2nd in the overall points classification.
Brad Hall from the Marco Polo Cycling Team. (photo: Remko Kramer)
Under guidance of team manager Gilbert de Weerdt, the Marco Polo Cycling Team showed a great team performance. The young riders Jonathan Lovelock and Khalid Bounida did great team efforts and especially Loh Sea Keong showed his strong riding with impressive work for GC contender Brad. Brad was supported and kept out of the wind by his team mates the whole tour and never once had to go back to get a drinking bottle. We are happy and proud of our riders doing so well and we are sure they will go for a big victory soon this year.
Loh Sea Keong rode a very strong Tour of Thailand. (photo: Remko Kramer)
The last stage of the Tour of Thailand was an exciting one for the Marco Polo Cycling Team. Especially for Australian rider Brad Hall. After 5 stages the Marco Polo rider was on a 2nd place in the GC, with big chances to make a jump to the first place. With great team work of especially Loh and control of the Japanese team of race leader Kohei Uchima, Brad was able to stay in control until the final 20 kilometers. Then a group managed to get away. With hard work of the yellow jersey and Brad, they managed to win back some time, just missing about 20 seconds… Brad finished ahead of the yellow jersey which brought him ahead of him in GC, unfortunately only enough for place 6 in the final general classification. Kiel Reijnen (USA) won the final GC.
Also Marco Polo rider Haidar Anuawar was succesfull. In 4 out of 6 stages he was able to finish in the top ten. Unfortunately he did not have a great first stage, which made him lose a good final classification, but still he took the 2nd place in the overall points classification!
There was also some bad luck at the team's side. Young talent Khalid Bounida fell hard during the 5th stage and bruised his wrist and thumb. Jonathan Lovelock was heavily chased by flat tires on bad moments.
All in all a good Tour with a young team – looking forward to Tour of Korea (April 22nd – May 2nd), where also Leon will be present to score results and guide the younger guys!