We finally arrive at the sixth and final stage of the Jelajah Malaysia, and it has to be said that this is the hardest of them all. It is 197km and while it takes in only two climbs, it has to be said that these are probably the two toughest climbs in the race. Here is the profile of the finale:
In addition to the stage and the GC, we also have the competition for the mountain jersey! The first climb today gives a maximum of 16 and the second one gives a maximum of 12. Rusli and Sarmiento are currently tied for first there with 20 points, so there is a lot to play for in the break today.
Speaking of the break, it takes 26km before we get the first attack. These first three riders will form the break of the day – a surprisingly low number: Volodymyr Dzhus Kristian Dyrnes (8 mountain points) Will Routley
None of these three are GC threats but obviously Dyrnes is worth watching for the mountain jersey.
There is a long time just riding along the flat, with none of the break worrying about the sprint points. The gap goes to just over 8 minutes as BNCR struggle to control things. Evian help them for a while, but they soon stop and let the leader’s team do all the work.
The break reach the first climb with the gap holding at around 7’56”. The gradients on this climb aren’t too difficult until right near the top when it approaches 15%.
Raabe starts to lead the bunch on the climb, and the numbers thin out a little bit. This is clearly going to be a long day for some of the riders.
There isn’t much action on the climb until right near the summit. Dyrnes attacks for the 16 mountain points, but he can’t make it stick. Regardless, he seems to work something out with the other guys in the break and they allow him to roll over in first. This puts him in the provisional jersey.
There are still 8 more mountain points on offer for the next person across the line and because of this there is a huge rush for them in the bunch. Eventually the name leading the group over is Bakhin. Right behind him is Sarmiento.
Both of these riders had picked up a lot of points over previous stages, so the top 3 in the mountain competition now looks like this with only one climb left: Bakhin – 26 Sarmiento – 26 Dyrnes – 24
There are only 74 riders left in the bunch but those who were dropped clearly aren’t going to get any respite today as we get the first attack on the descent. Naibo is the first rider to give it a go. He is in the big group of riders who are 1’15” down on GC.
We see why Rusli didn’t go for the previous mountain points as he goes to the front to bring Naibo back. He is defending Alizadeh’s GC place.
This is the only attack on the descent but the pace has clearly quickened as the gap is down to 4’30” at the start of the second climb. This is a really tough climb that spends several kilometres in a row over 10%, with quite a long time over 20% within that.
The first attack on this climb is from Masuda and Sarmiento, but it doesn’t amount to much. However, it clearly lights the touch paper and it is stage favourite Moreno who goes next!
Gonzalo, Yeung and Mestre all try to follow him but Esquivel himself controls their attack. Moreno has forced open a gap of 22” and is looking dangerous, particularly with the steep stuff coming up.
Up front the break hit the start of the 20% section. They only have 1’30” now and, realising that he can no longer stick with the other two if he wants to get anything out of today, Routley decides to try to get away.
Dzhus controls his attack and it is clear that none of these three have the power to stay away even to the top of the climb. Remember Dyrnes will need something from the summit to take the mountain jersey.
The next attempt to bridge up to Moreno is from Feillu and Parra Bustamente. While they can’t get away they do succeed in reeling in both Moreno and the break.
The road now starts to flat out to only around 15%. Moreno makes another attempt to get away and he is joined by Feillu.
It is Rodas who does the chasing now, perhaps spurred on by his manager’s comment that he wants to see a big ride from him. The two riders are dragged in and the bunch has now been reduced to an elite group of 33.
Menchov is the next rider to make a bid for freedom. The gradient remains extremely steep.
Alizadeh realises that this is a threat to his GC position and so he does the chasing this time. The gradient now levels off to under 10%. With the gradient no longer as steep, you would think there would be fewer attacks. That isn’t the case, however, as Naibo attacks now with Feillu following him.
Behind them there are only 9 other riders who have followed the pace so far. They are: Esquivel, Rojas Villegas Menchov Colorado Alizadeh Moreno Bakhin Mestre Rodas
Of these riders it is Rojas Villegas, the last domestique left in the bunch, who controls the attack to make it a group of 11.
With 1km to the summit Bakhin realises he has a brilliant opportunity and he attacks away for the mountain points.
Obviously none of the others are going to let him have a lot of space as he is still also a GC threat but he reaches the summit first and thus secures the mountain jersey. The jersey has seen a great fight throughout this race. The bunch has slowed up a bit, however, and we are back to 30 riders in the lead group.
In a replay of yesterday BNCR bring their tired domestiques to the front and keep things controlled early in the descent. There are only a few tough-ish bumps between them and victory now. Naibo, however, has other plans and he launches an attack. Remember this is how Esquivel took the jersey in the first place.
Naibo is caught fairly quickly but it gives Sarmiento an idea and he heads off. He is a much better descender and he holds his speed much better to the bottom.
We reach the first of the two short climbs and unfortunately for Sarmiento he is caught by another attacker – Alizadeh makes a bid for glory!
Alizadeh manages a gap of 20” over the top and he holds a lead going into the final climb of the race! This has really come down to the wire.
But the best young rider can’t quite hold it as Moreno attacks past him with Rodas on his tail. They now pull out a 20” gap!
With just over 5km remaining Esquivel, for only the second time this stage, is forced to come to the front and pull the two riders back, which he manages to do.
A somewhat unexpected attacker tries next – Colorado goes for it! Esquivel, Gonzalo and Mestre hop onto his back wheel.
These four are caught by the others over the top and it looks certain to be a bunch sprint now. There are only 22 riders left in the group and most of them are going to be struggling after this incessant attacking. Remember that with so many riders on the same time bonus seconds are absolutely crucial.
The sprint opens up and at the front we have: Alizadeh Feillu Esquivel Menchov Rodas Gonzalo Moreno Parra Bustamente
With 1km left 4 riders are fighting it out for stage honours - Feillu leads ahead of Alizadeh while Moreno and Esquivel fight it out in the middle.
Moreno breaks out of this group of 4 with the line so close. Rodas is coming up on the outside, moving into third, but he is still a fair way back.
What’s this? Esquivel has found another gear!
And Deiber Esquivel takes his second stage win and shows why he truly deserves this stage race victory.
Moreno will be disappointed that he couldn’t even come out of this with a stage win, but he will perhaps be happy knowing that 2nd place overall is his. Rodas sprints to third and that will move him into 4th overall. Mestre and Colorado both came from a long way back to make it into the top five. Feillu was near the front but still drops to 6th. Rusli was clearly saving himself for the sprint but can only manage 7th. His teammate Alizadeh is in 8th while Menchov and Gallego round out the top ten.
Overall, Alizadeh holds on to his third place thanks to superior stage positions and he of course gets to keep his best young rider jersey. Feillu is in 5th as the best of the riders who didn’t win any time bonuses. Bakhin may only be 17th overall but he gets to take home the mountain jersey after fighting so hard for it all race. Moreno does in fact win something, in the form of the points jersey. On this final stage, with BNCR’s riders exhausted from all the chasing, Iberia was able to claim best team as well.
