Youcef Reguigui put in a great ride today at the 3rd Tour de Langkawi stage, sprinting to 2nd place just behind Caleb Ewan (Orica-Greenedge). Leonardo Duque (Colombia) claimed 3rd position at the line.
It was a fantastic team performance all round by Team MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung today as what was expected to be another mass sprint stage, turned into a race defining stage. In the early part of today’s racing 5 riders went clear of the peloton and Natnael Berhane was representing MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung in the move. They escapees built up a lead of 3 minutes by the time the peloton hit the cat 1 climb situated at the 67km mark.
It was on this cat 1 climb that some fireworks began back in the peloton with our African team right at the helm of the action. Over the top of the climb, a select group of 45 riders had formed leaving the peloton and yellow jersey in its wake. With a slight gap and a couple of teams having 3 or 4 riders in the selection, they pushed on in the hope of distancing the peloton.
Jacques Janse van Rensburg, Merhawi Kudus, Daniel Teklehaimanot and Youcef Reguigui all the made the select group and with Natnael up the road our African team helped to drive the big chase group. Natnael’s group was inevitably caught as the gap to the peloton opened up dramatically to more than 10 minutes with only 40km’s to race.
After realising the winner would come from the break, MTN-Qhubeka p/b Samsung turned to support Youcef for the finale as they have over the last 2 stages. In a fast and nail-biting finish, our Algerian was just pipped to the line by less than wheels length to Ewan. Merhawi also snuck into the top 10, securing 9th place. Natnael now moves into 2nd on GC after the bonus seconds he won in the break and Youcef is up to 3rd overall.
Youcef Reguigui – Rider
Jacques Janse van Rensburg – Rider
Michel Cornelisse – Sport Director
