STAGE 4: Ayer Tawar - Cameron Highlands 138 KM's

Stage Favourites:

***Quintana(BSC) **Stortoni(LAM) *Vorganov(KAT)

Stage 4 and stage 5 offer little chances of success for our team being really out of their comfort zone, in the mountains. This is really a stage of two half's, the first half being flat and the second being mostly uphill all the way to the finish.

With 75 kilometres to go a 2 man break was finally established, we were thrilled to have Al Mowaled in it, he was joined by Roldan(Avianca).
But with 50 kilometres to go our rider was really starting to suffer and by the time Santo Anza (Farnese Vini) attacked out of the bunch and joined the men out front Al Mowaled was soon dropped.
As the peloton lessened more riders attacked out of the bunch looking to join the break outfront they included Rohregger(Astana), Fischer(SES) and Angeloni(Panathinaikos).

Out front the break was holding well, Roldan took the mountain points. With 20 kilometres to go the gap was around 3:00 over the peloton being driven along by Bretagne working for Bonnafond.
Onto the final climb, the big names attack, Facchini and Vorganov attack the break's lead lessened.
Out front Anza sees Rohregger coming up and attacks Roldan who can't follow.

Anza solo's to a win. Rohregger left the chase up to Roldan, who will take the KOM jersey, the big favourites left it way too late and finish together in a large group.

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STAGE 5: Tapah - Genting Highlands 124 KM's

Stage Favourites:
***Stortoni(LAM) **Quintana(BSC) *Vorganov(KAT)

The last day for the GC men, whoever holds the GC lead after this stage will likely win overall. For us, we just aim to survive the stage.

We were very pleased that after an eventful first half to the race that our winner at Kumano was able to make the nine man break, along with riders including Pion, Ignatiev Yelky Gomez and Barry.

With 50 kilometres to go and the break in control , like the previous stage, Bretagne, were solely on the front working for Bonnafond. Although with 20 kilometres to go the break had 2:41 they were always in control, the last 22 kilometres being up to Genting Highlands.
Facchini(Colnago) is the first to attack out of the bunch, he attacks with 20 kilometres to go but gets nowhere. Out front the break is dwindling only five riders are at the head of affairs, sadly Lastras is not one.
With 9 kilometres to go a big attack comes from Aru(Dominica) and he quickly bridges across, only Yelky Gomez can follow him. With 4 kilometres to go the two men are looking good, albeit they are attacking each other, when the favourites behind attack. The first to attack is Hayakawa, Roldan has long since been dropped and Anza is now two groups back.

Aru finally drops Yelky, inside the final kilometre Hayakawa has passed Aru, but the big favourties are coming behind at a stonking rate. But Hayakawa just holds on for the win and the GC lead, an exciting climax for the stage, of course it would have been great if the team had anyone for this terrain.

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STAGE 6: Rawang - Putrajaya Loop 135 KM's

Stage Favourites:

***Kummer(SAS) **Kristoff(KAT) *Belletti(KAT)

With the most unsuitable stages for our team for the season over, from now on we can look for success.

We were pleased that Criel managed to make the 12 man break, as team's may not be willing to chase after difficult stages. The break also included Di Luca, puncheur/ perennial escapee Rocchetti, who won the 2016 Strade Bianchi and Stenveson/ Quinziato from Colnago.

With 50 kilometres to go the break had 9:00 minutes and it was clear the break was going to win, a real chance of success for us today with Criel feeling good. Nippo and Qatari Al Sulimani was riding on the front, the team would love to sign him but he is on a long contract.
There was only one real dangerman in the break, Renev @9:05, but the peloton accelerated and he was never in danger of taking the GC lead.

With no attacks the break would sprint it out. Quinziato starts the sprint looking to set up Stevenson. Criel is on Rocchetti's wheel who is on Quinziato's wheel, as Quinziato slows the three are swamped. But Rocchetti and Criel both come through strongly in the last few meters, Rocchetti comes through fast just to deny Stevenson the win. We got a valuable forth place with Criel, a great stage for us.

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Stage Favourites:
***Kummer(SAS) **Kristoff(KAT) *Appollonio(LAM)

The first 65 kilometres were really hectic, after yesterday's stage success for the break, many riders wanted to attack and did so on this flat stage, including Martinez and Al Mowaled. But there were always too many riders in the break for the peloton's liking. With 100 kilometres to go there was no break when...
Our man O'Brien who was feeling great, attacked and he was joined by 6 other really strong riders including Malori, Pliuschin and De Marchi, Barry(Cyclevox) would eventually join to make 8 riders after soloing for a good 40 kilometres.

With 60 kilometres to go SAS started to work and the break looked like it may struggle to succeed. But no other team would be willing to work, Katusha already have a stage win and Oasis, who looked to have the fastest sprinter in Blot, had a man in the break. With 30 kilometres to go the break have 2:50, with 20 kilometres to go as Zelinka attacks from the peloton the break have more than 2 minutes and continue to rebuild an advantage. The break would win.

O'Brien was feeling in top form and as the riders approached the sprint he was in fourth wheel behind De Marchi, but they both get swamped. By the time O'Brien starts to get into a decent rhythm the stage is over, Euser takes the hard man win for Dual Temp. With some more guts perhaps O'Brien should have attacked with a few kilometres to go, nevertheless we are pleased with the stage and O'Brien who instigated the break in the first place.

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STAGE 8: Kuala Pilah - Jasin 165 KM's

Stage Favourites:
***Kummer(SAS) **Kristoff(KAT) *Belleti(KAT)

Unlike the previous stages a break was established very early on in the stage, blink and you would miss it, like our team did.
It became pretty clear early on that the five riders would battle out for victory, with 90 kilometres to go they had 9:30 and with 60 kilometres to go they had 11 minutes. The sprinters teams should be questioned for their efforts as no doubt there was enough fire power to bring the five riders back, if wanted.

Kashechkin was the first to make his move with 4 kilometres to go with a strong attack, but Saez buried himself and brought it back. The other three riders would contest the finish, Pokidov (Itera) would take an inspiring win and celebrated big time. For us Kupeshov looked to gain a top 10 finish, but with a quick burst of acceleration Cozza just beat him to 10th.

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STAGE 9: Melaka - Nilai 146 KM's

Stage Favourites:
***Kummer(SAS) **Appollonio(LAM) *Kristoff(KAT)

Eventually a 12 man break was established including three Colnago riders, after many attempts by Nateghi to get into the break we conserved our efforts and all our riders remained in the bunch.

Unlike the previous three stages the sprinters teams, in particular SES Astra, really wanted the win and were hell bent on shutting down the break. The break were caught with 5 kilometres to go.

After a superb leadout by Roels, Kummer puts in a dominant sprint repaying the faith by his team with an emphatic win. A quite stage for our guys who are no doubt suffering after 9 continuous stages of racing. I really did admire the sprint train put together by SES Astra, I went to sleep dreaming about putting together a team capable of such a showing.

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