The last of the Mixed Championship races, and we see Cameroon, Armenia and the Philippines going head-to-head on a hilly course in a bid for their National Honours. Three pairs of riders will do battle, with a majority being from the same team.
Armenia is between the Novatek pair of Mihran Avetisyan and Arman Kharatyan, the Philippines has Rustom Lim and Mark Galedo from Siam Cement, whilst Cameroon will be between Yves Ngock Ngue and Clovis Kamzong (the only duo on different teams).
All 6 riders lined up on the start line, racing on a course that shouldn’t result in a mass sprint finish. The climb to line is steep enough to cause the smallest gaps, but who will think of going long and banking a breakaway to take the win.
A break of two went clear over the first climb of the race, with Avetisyan and Lim representing Armenia and the Philippines. Both Ngock Ngue and Kamzong missed the break, watching each other’s moves closely.
The chase back from the peleton was not the fastest, and it would be the break to contest the overall stage win. With that Avetisyan and Lim guaranteed themselves their respective National RR Titles for next season. Would Cameroon come down to an uphill sprint or would one of them make a move before the climb?
A late attack would give Mihran Avetisyan the stage win today, and a chance to take the glory of the victory from the watching crowd. Lim finishes just behind him, 9 seconds back.
Both Cameroonian riders watch each other to make the first move on the final climb. Ngock Ngue kicks first, and his superior climbing skills give him the gap he needs. Comfortably he takes the Cameroon title, with an 18” gap back to Kamzong.
The same 6 riders will take part in the Individual Time Trial, where one or two of the riders were hoping to reverse the result of the Road Race.
In the Philippines, Mark Galedo was clearly the stronger of the pair, and should have no issue getting the better of Road Race Champion Rustom Lim.
The same result should be seen in Cameroon, where Clovis Kamzong hoped that his skills against the clock (as low as they are) would give him the edge over Yves Ngock Ngue.
Armenia would be the only difference on the others, where Mihran Avetisyan was gunning for the Double National Title for the second year running. Just like the others though, it looked like an easy ride for him against Arman Kharatyan.
As expected, it was Galedo’s Time Trial to lose. The Siam Cement rider is calm and composed throughout the route, and post a time that might just win the overall stage as well. Lim finishes more than 3 minutes further back, and the pair share the National Titles between them -- 1h10'10
Cameroon also goes the way of the favourite, as Kamzong betters Ngock Ngue by more than 2 minutes to take the Time Trial title. Just like the Philippines, they will share the National titles between them for next season -- 1h11”21
Finally, Avetisyan rode home to take a National Double for Armenia. With more than 4 minutes advantage, it was never in doubt for him against Kharatyan, who was not in the same league as him. -- 1h12’28
Mihran Avetisyan
Rustom Lim
Yves Ngock Ngue
