DUTCHMAN Jeroen Meijers of Taiyuan Miogee Cycing Team of China successfully defended his lead in the fifth and final stage on Tuesday topped by German Mario Vogt of Team Sapura Cycling of Malaysia to rule the 10th Le Tour de Filipinas.
Meijers, 26, secured the victory with a total clocking of 20:38:07 after staying with Singapore’s Goh Choon Huat of Terrenganu Inc. TSG Cycling of Malaysia in the peloton that clocked three hours, 34 minutes and 48 seconds.
Goh finished second overall in 20:38:52, with Australia’s Angus Lyons of Oliver’s Real Food Racing taking the final podium spot at 20:39:45.
7Eleven Cliqq-Air21 by Roadbike Philippines’ Daniel Habtemichael (20:40:20), PGN Road Cycling Team’s Sandy Nur Hasan (20:40:32) and Aiman Cahyadi (20:40:39), Team Ukyo’s Kohei Yokotsuka (20:40:39) and Naoya Yoshioka (20:40:41) and Team Sapura Cycling’s Muhsin Al Redha Misbah (20:40:42) and Taiyuan Miogee’s Li Shuai (20:40:43) rounded out the top 10.
“I felt good entering Stage Five, we had a good feeling about it and I know you need to celebrate at the finish line, not before because anything can happen,” said Meijers, whose last victory came in France three years ago.
Vogt topped the 138.1km Stage Five in 3:33:39, besting Filipino Dominic Perez of 7Eleven and Malaysian Mohd Zamri Saleh of Terengganu Inc TSG Cycing Team of Malaysia, who each timed in 3:34:41.
It was the third podium finish for the 27-year-old Stuttgart native after he also ruled Stage Two Saturday and placed third in Stage Four on Monday. Vogt finished 12th overall.
Team Ukyo clinched the team crown in 61:59:35 and the US$1,200 (P62,400) prize.
Taiyuan Miogee wound up second (622:36) and PGN Road Cycling Team (62:03:05) third in the five-stage race sponsored by Air21, Cargohaus, NMM, Ufreight and SPL and backed by the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office and Onesports by Cignal.
Filipino Marcelo Felipe of 7Eleven Cliqq-Air21 by Roadbike Phls slipped from 10th to 11th in 20:43:43 after losing to Li via countback. Li had a better finish than Marcelo in Stage Four.
Felipe went home as the best Filipino rider, besting Mark Galedo of Celeste Cycles Bianchi Philippines, who won Le Tour five years ago but wound up 15th this time.
Go for Gold’s Jonel Carcueva placed 16th.
Meijers won the opening stage on Friday and never gave up the purple jersey.
Le Tour chair Donna Mae Lina later said she is looking forward to next year’s 11th edition.
“It was a fitting end to Le Tour’s 10th year anniversary and we’re excited for another one next year,” said Lina.
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