REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BAJAWA -- Chinese cyclist Yinghon Ronald Yeung became the fastest rider in the third stage of the Tour de Flores bicycle race Saturday.
Yeung, who rides for Wisdom Henxiang Cycling Team, was too tough for other riders on the third day of the race.
He crossed the finish line and won the 123.3km stage from Ende to Bajawa in 3 hours, 34 minutes and 14 seconds.
Meanwhile, Benjamin Paredes from Team Ukyo came second in 3 hours, 34 minutes and 14 seconds, followed by Hyeongmin Choe in third in 3 hours, 34 minutes and 16 seconds.
Not only did Yeung come first, he also retained his polka dot jersey as the leader of the King of Mountains category during the third stage of the race.
"I was so lucky today. Besides finishing first, I won all the designated King of Mountain climbs," Yeung said after the race.
The race was quite competitive as there had been no dominant rider on the third day of the event.
The first stage was won by Jason Christie, while the second day belonged to Daniel Whitehouse, both New Zealanders.
Meanwhile, Indonesia's national team rider Robin Manullang came in fourth in 3 hours, 34 minutes and 16 seconds on the third day.
When it came to the overall standings, Manulang sat in second position with a time of 11 hours, 4 minutes and 42 seconds, after the current leading rider, Daniel Whitehouse from the Terengganu Cycling Team who was faster by 10 seconds.
The 2015 SEA Games gold medalist Robin Manullang also became both, the fastest Asian cyclist (blue jersey), and the fastest Indonesian rider (red and white jersey), during the third day of the 2016 Tour de Flores.
The chance for the Indonesian rider to win the race is still open as there are two more stages to go.
The fourth stage will cover 183km route starting from Bajawa to Ruteng, while the last stage will be a 147km battle from Ruteng to Labuan Bajo.
His organization used the event to scout for some national cyclists before the SEA Games 2017 and the Asian Games 2018, chairperson of the Indonesian Cycling Association PB ISSI Raja Sapta Oktohari explained.
Tour de Flores is expected to offer more spectacular views and will be more challenging than other bicycle races in Indonesia, such as the Tour de Singkarak and Tour de Banyuwangi.
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