Colombia-Coldeportes’ Rodolfo Torres was hoping to find on Fraser’s Hill, the finish of the penultimate and most anticipated stage of the Tour de Langkawi, ideal terrain to make differences and launch his assault to the overall classification. Instead, unfortunately for the Colombian, the final uphill proved way less selective than expected, allowing a fast rider like Youcef Reguigui (MTN Qhubeka) to hold on the wheels and top a 15-man sprint after 180 km.

Behind the Algerian, new overall leader, finished Sebastian Henao (Team Sky) and Valerio Agnoli (Astana), while Torres closed in eight position, the same spot he now occupies in the overall standings, 16” behind the new leader. In addition,Claudio Corti’s Team veteran Leonardo Duque grazed the day’s as well as the overall top-10, placing 12th.

High pace and battle in the peloton characterized the first kilometers of the stage7 (Shal Alam – Fraser’s Hill 180,8 Km). A 4-man action – Chicchi (Androni Giocattoli), Bertazzo (Southeast), Park (KSPO) and Azman (NSC Cycling Team) – started at Km 14 opening a 7-minute gap on the peloton guided by Colombia-Coldeportes, Team Sky and Tinkoff-Saxo.

The escapees showed good cooperation until Bertazzo moved on the attack and he remained alone at the front with 60 Km to go. On the final ascent, Fraser’s Hill, the peloton accelerated under Team Sky’s push and the Italian rider was caught inside the last 5 kilometers. At that point, a 9-man group had the chance to contest the success in the reduced sprint won by Reguigui, despite Rodolfo Torres had tried to outdistance his opponents with 3 Km to go.

“The final climb proved easier than expected”, Sports Director Valerio Tebaldi commented. “Rodolfo moved on the attack in the last kilometers but there was not the terrain to make the difference. Nevertheless, we can’t complain with the performance: we were in the mix in every stahe, and tomorrow we will try to conclude in the best way with Molano and Duque”.

Tomorrow, Sunday March 15th, the Escarabajos will face the last stage of Malaysian race, 96,1 Km from Kuala Kubu Bharu to Malaysia’s capital Kuala Lumpur.