Thuy wins Binh Duong first stage
HA NOI — Bui Minh Thuy of ADC Vinh Long Television won the 71km first stage of the Binh Duong Television International Cycling Tour yesterday.
Thuy finished the Dong Ha city to Hue leg in 1 hour 27 minutes and 55 seconds, just ahead of Do Tuan Anh of Domesco Dong Thap and Mai Nguyen Hung of Sai Gon Plant Protection team.
Komsan Kambenchee of the Netherlands finished fourth.
ADC Vinh Long, with the help of Dutch cyclist Spijkerboer Wim, recorded the best team time of 4:24:09. Domesco Dong Thap and Sai Gon Plant Protection finished second and third, respectively.
It was just the second time the Viet Nam Cycling Federation has permitted teams to invite non-Vietnamese athletes. In the 1993-94 cycling season, HCM City-based Thanh Binh Hotel employed the services of an English cyclist.
The nine-stage tour, which carries prize money of VND220 million (US$11,000), takes in Da Nang, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan and Binh Duong provinces.
There are 75 cyclists competing for the title, and 12 local and three foreign teams – Mongolia, the Netherlands and the Philippines.
Last year, Hall Brad of the Netherlands' Ysselstreek team won the yellow jersey for the best overall time.
The second 110km stage from Hue to Da Nang today takes in the Phuoc Tuong, Phu Gia and Hai Van passes. — VNS