SOHRABI AND TABRIZ CONQUER JELAJAH MALAYSIA 2011 IN STYLE

NILAI (13 March 2011) – Mehdi Sobrahi and his Tabriz Petrochemical conquered the Jelajah Malaysia 2011 in style when they won the overall individual general classification as well as the taking the best ranked team crown this year.

The Iranian outfit which has been lurking in the background over the last few stages finally flexed their muscle today and attacked the whole day long throughout the 175km ride.

And Mehdi could not have emerged as the more deserving champion than having last year’s winner David McCann of Giant Kenda come in second behind him on the stage with a blistering time of 3:59:44.

“I had always maintained from the start that the Jelajah Malaysia this year is up for grabs for anyone who wants it,” said Sohrabi.

“But my team worked hard today, they really worked for me. After the second sprint (at Sepang), I just went for it. When I looked back at the peloton, the yellow jersey (Vidal Celis of Le Tua Cycling) was very quiet and did not follow.

“There were several of us in front and we worked together including McCann all the way to the finish.”

With Mehdi also confirming his win of the blue jersey for the best ranked Asian rider, the best-ranked Malaysian for the 100PLUS white jersey went to Amir Mustafa Rusli of the Police team.

“I tried to go for the blue jersey but Mehdi was just too strong,” said Amir, who will be joining Drapac for the Tour of Taiwan next.

“He broke away after the second sprint which was really a long way off, some 70km to go to the finish which is rare for anyone to do.”

The two wins that Muhammad Adiq Husainie scored at both Cat. 3 climb in Ampang and Semenyih ensured that he took over the red jersey for king of the mountain from Aisan’s Kenichi Suzuki.

“The target was the red jersey for sure. I had wanted to maintain my top six position from last year but I had several punctures this time round. So I had to refocus on the red jersey instead,” added Adiq.

“The two wins at the two climbs made all the difference and that was my aim this morning.”

The jelajah Malaysia could have been a different story this year with the newly formed Terengganu Cycling team learning some valuable lessons along the way.

They, who had been so strong at the start would have realised that the Jelajah Malaysia is a long stage race and they will need the staying power to last through to the end even though at one time, they had four jerseys in their hands.

“We learned a lot that is for sure,” added Mohd Hariff Salleh, who won the sprinters’ green jersey for the first time in his career.

“I switched from track cycling to road race and I need some adjustments. I am a little tired and perhaps we worked a little too hard at the start this time round.”

STAGE SIX RESULTS1. Mehdi Sohrabi (Tabriz Petrochemical) 3:59:442. David McCann (Giant Kenda) 3:59:463. Ioannis Tamouridis (SP Tableware) 4:01:104. David Kopp (Team Eddy Merckx) 4:01:155. Jesse Anthony (Kelly Benefit) 4:03:10

FINAL INDIVIDUAL GENERAL CLASSIFICATION1. Mehdi Sohrabi (Tabriz Petrochemical) 23:07:312. David McCann (Giant Kenda) 23:08:003. Ioannis Tamouridis (SP Tableware) 23:09:114. David Kopp (Team Eddy Merckx) 23:09:245. Vidal Celis (Le Tua) 23:11:14 0:03:43

FINAL TEAM GENERAL CLASSIFICATION1. TABRIZ PETROCHEMICAL TEAM 69:31:052. GIANT KENDA CYCLING TEAM 69:31:163. TEAM EDDY MERCKX - INDELAND 69:32:424. MARMANDE 47-F2P 69:34:455. SP TABLEWARE PRO TEAM 69:35:12

FINAL ASIAN JERSEY CLASSIFICATION1. Mehdi Sohrabi (Tabriz Petrochemical) 23:07:312. Kazuhiro Mori (Aisan) 23:11:293. Muradjan Halmuratov (Uzbekistan) 23:11:294. Amir Mustafa Rusli (Police) 23:11:325. Toots Oledan (Seven Eleven) 23:11:32

FINAL 100PLUS MALAYSIAN JERSEY CLASSIFICATION1. Amir Mustafa Rusli (Police) 23:11:322. Mohd Shahrul Mat Amin (Terengganu Cycling team) 23:11:353. Yusrizal Usoff (Terengganu Cycling team) 23:13:384. Loh Sea Keong (Kuala Lumpur) 23:13:485. Khairul Naim Azhar (Sabah) 23:16:15

FINAL GREEN JERSEY CLASSIFICATION
1. Mohd Hariff Salleh (Terengganu Cycling team) 66 points2. Ioannis Tamouridis (SP Tableware) 653. Anuar Manan (Terengganu Cycling team) 624. David Kopp (Team Eddy Merckx) 565. Mehdi Sohrabi (Tabriz Petrochemical) 48

FINAL RED JERSEY CLASSIFICATION1. Muhammad Adiq Husainie Othan (Malaysia) 12 points2. Mark John Lexer Galedo (Seven Eleven) 93. Kenichi Suzuki (Aisan) 84. Kazuhiro Miro (Aisan) 65. Jesse Anthony (Kelly Benefit) 6