LookAtVietnam – National team member Vo Thi Phuong Phi outsprinted her rivals to win the second stage of the National Women’s Cycling Open from Cao Lanh to Ben Tre yesterday, July 13.

Bullrider: Phan Thi Thuy Trang, of Agifish An Giang, retains the yellow jersey in the National Women’s Cycling Open.

Trang, who has been a prominent contender, retained the yellow jersey with an elapsed time of three hours 28 minutes 22 seconds.

There were several breaks during the 109km stage featuring riders from Domesco Dong Thap, Sai Gon Plan Protection, Malaysia and Kazakhstan. But all failed as Binh Duong and Agifish An Giang members quickly dragged them in.

Phi became the flag bearer for the Binh Duong team when she started to attack after 80km. She was joined by Thuy Trang, Alias, Nguyen Thi Hoang Oanh, of Sai Gon, and Pham Thi Thuy Lien, of Dong Thap.

The lead group created a gap of several minutes on the peloton but was caught after a few kilometres. The bunch was together at the finish.

Phi showed her determination to win the final sprint half a bike length ahead of Alias and Thuy Trang.

The win gave Phi five points and lifted her to 23 to lead the race for the green jersey, which is based solely on top-five finishes.

She was close to taking the yellow jersey, being only four seconds in arrears.

Binh Duong took advantage of Phi’s win to lead the teams event from Domesco Dong Thap and Agifish An Giang.

Today’s 102km third stage is from Ben Tre town in Ben Tre province to Bac Binh Minh in Vinh Long. As one of the tour’s longest stages, it is expected to feature several attempted breakaways, which could significantly change individual and team standings.

The annual tour is also known as the An Giang Television Cup. The 13 teams include entries from Malaysia and Kazakhstan.

The seventh and final stage is on Saturday where the various winners will collect a total of VND135 million (US$7,400) prizes.

Last year, Malaysian Loew Hoay Sim won the individual title and Binh Duong Water Supply the teams’ crown.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News