LookAtVietnam – Do Tuan Anh yesterday, April 14, won his second stage of the annual HCM City Television Cycling Cup after a crucial race from Dong Hoi Town to Hue city City.

Do Tuan Anh yesterday, April 14, won his second stage of the annual HCM City Television Cycling Cup after a crucial race from Dong Hoi Town to Hue City.

Anh digs deep for victory in the mountains

Quyen takes debut stage victory

Thuy peddles to second stage win

Peddle on: Bui Minh Thuy (right) pedals to hold the yellow jersey after five stages at the National HCM City Television Cycling Cup yesterday.

Just like on Tuesday, Anh pedalled to the finish line just half a wheel quicker than the other cyclists of the peloton who almost ended the stage at the same time.

The Domesco Dong Thap rider did not ride in the leading group most of the race. But he definitely had good tactics for the long 183km stint. Saving his power for the tour by riding in the middle of the peloton, Anh only exploded about 10km from the end, when he rushed full speed ahead to win.

He spent 3hr 57.19min on the stage to take his second victory in a row. The win also helped him enter the top three leading cyclers overall.

It was the second stage that yellow jersey-holder Bui Minh Thuy was not one of the first three finishers, but the Vinh Long Television member still kept the jersey with great support from his teammates.

To ensure Thuy’s title, two riders of the team, Truong The Nhut and Ho Van Loc, opened attacks very early on when the tour was only at around 60km. They lured the attention of the other teams, who in turn neglected to keep an eye on Thuy. The two ran away quickly and created a gap of about four minutes with the whole bunch and were only caught up to at the 173km mark.

At this time, Thuy, Anh and other strong competitors heated up their engines to the finish. Despite his efforts, Thuy failed again to land in the top three with Anh, Le Van Duan of Sai Gon Plant Protection 1 and Tran Van Quyen from the Army team. Thuy placed sixth.

His overall time of 16:59.31 was, however, enough to keep him on top, followed by Tuguldur Tuulkhangai of Mongolia who was 2sec behind. Anh was at third with 16:59.40.

On the teams’ side, Vinh Long Television felt the breath of their runner-up Mongolia as they had the same time of 50:59.53. Their position, thanks to Thuy’s great success, was under attack after the five-stage lead. Only a small mistake in the next race could drop them down. Third place went to Sai Gon Plant Protection 1, who were 10sec behind.

The sixth stage today is 25 laps riding around the two bridges of Truong Tien and Phu Xuan in Hue City.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News