Sai Gon cyclists scoop up jerseys

Victor: Cyclist Mai Nguyen Hung of Sai Gon Plant Protection (centre) celebrates after winning the overall best time in the trans-Viet Nam cycling race. — VNA/VNS Photo Ngoc Truong

HA NOI — Riders from the HCM City-based Sai Gon Plant Protection 1 team won both the yellow and red jerseys at the international trans-Viet Nam cycling tournament that finished in Ha Noi on Saturday.

The team's Mai Nguyen Hung claimed the overall yellow jersey with a time of 35 hours 46 minutes 40 seconds despite finishing 10th in the final 142-km stage between Thanh Hoa and Ha Noi.

In second place was Le Tan Hoai of Domesco Dong Thap while Le Ngoc Thanh and Le Van Duan, also of SGPP 1, finished third and fourth.

SGPP 1 also captured the team title with a cumulative time of 107:18:23.

Duan claimed the red jersey for the best climber with 26 points.

The event was one of a series to commemorate Ha Noi's millennium anniversary and began in HCM City on September 23.

Seventy eight cyclists from 11 local and two foreign teams – Mongolia and Laos – took part in the 1,818km race that took them through 17 provinces and cities despite the cancellation of two stages because of the floods in the central region. — VNS

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Anh snatches Tour stage on the wire

HA NOI — National cyclist Do Tuan Anh won the sixth and penultimate stage of the 19th Mekong Delta Cycling Tour, An Giang Plant Protection Cup yesterday.

The Domesco Dong Thap rider overcame Mai Nguyen Hung of Sai Gon Plant Protection 1 and Bui Minh Thuy of ADC-Vinh Long Television in the last few seconds of the 179km race from Ca Mau city to Can Tho city.

The time of 4hr 26min 20sec at a top speed of 40.325km/h was good considering the route included 10 bridges.

Anh also kept the green jersey for the highest points in the tournament with 82 points. Mai Nguyen Hung of Sai Gon Plant Protection 1 and Bui Minh Thuy of An Giang Plant Protection were the runners-up with 69 points and 62 points, respectively.

Nguyen Nam Cuc of Sai Gon Plant Protection 2 received strong support from his teammates to keep the yellow jersey for a best overall 18:56.53 after six stages, followed by Dang Trung Hieu of Can Tho city and Lam Cong Danh of An Giang Plant Protection.

Cuc's success helped his team maintain the lead with a total time of 565:58.44, followed by ADC-Vinh Long Television and the Military Zone 7.

Today, cyclists will compete in the last 130km stage from Can Tho city to Ben Tre city. — VNS

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Young cyclists sprint past veterans in Delta event

HA NOI — Youth prevailed in the fifth stage of the 19th Mekong Delta Cycling Tour, An Giang Plant Protection Cup, yesterday.

Nguyen Hoang Sang of the An Giang Plant Protection youth team completed the 116km race from Soc Trang city to Ca Mau city in 2hr 40min 34sec at a top speed of 43.346km/h.

Second and third went to Nguyen Minh Tam and Nguyen Hoang Sang from ADC-Vinh Long Television 2.

Veterans of Sai Gon Plant Protection found the competition tough. Nguyen Nam Cuc from Sai Gon Plant Protection 2 kept the yellow jersey for a best overall 14:30.33 after five stages, followed by Dang Trung Hieu of Can Tho city and Lam Cong Danh of An Giang Plant Protection.

Keeping the green jersey for the highest points in the tournament, Do Tuan Anh from Domesco Dong Thap has 62 points. Mai Nguyen Hung of Sai Gon Plant Protection 1 was runner-up with 54 points.

In team ranking, Sai Gon Plant Protection 2 maintained the lead with a total time of 43:39.44, followed by ADC-Vinh Long Television with 43:42.23 and Military Zone 7 43:42.28.

Today, cyclists will compete in the 180km penultimate and longest stage from Ca Mau city to Can Tho city. Competition for the green jersey will be strong among veterans Anh, Hung and Nguyen Truong Tai of Domesco Dong Thap. — VNS

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