Max Poole (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) raced into the lead of the Tour de Langkawi on stage on the mountainous stage 3 to Cameron Highlands, profitable the stage with a dash from a small group.
The Briton beat out Harold Martin López (Astana Qazaqstan) and Thomas Pesenti (JCL Group Ukyo) to the road from a bunch of 11 riders on the head of the race to safe DSM’s twentieth win of the 2024 season.
DSM had led the way in which up the 19.1km, 3.6% climb to KG Raja earlier than the shorter however steeper 8.2km, 5.2% climb to Brinchang which peaked 8km earlier than the end of the 180km stage.
There, Poole set off on the assault inside the ultimate kilometre of the ascent, taking a number of riders with him on the entrance of the race. Poole and his companions had been caught on the brief descent to the end, establishing a bigger group dash for the win.
Ultimately, the 21-year-old second-year professional launched his dash for the road early on the downhill run to steal a march on his rivals and rating his first professional victory.
He now leads the race by 5 seconds from López, whereas Pesenti lies in third general at six seconds again. With the remaining 5 levels of the race run largely over flat floor, Poole and DSM are within the driving seat for general victory.
“It was fairly an easy day with how the parcours was, with a flat first 100km then uphill for the ultimate 70km. It was actually the one alternative for the climbers right here,” Poole mentioned after the stage.
“I’ve a very good group of individuals round me; we made a superb plan and knew that it was being about affected person and ready till the final kilometre of the climb to make the harm. When there have been assaults, I simply tried to remain affected person till the final second to then make the distinction after which come excessive of the climb with a niche. We labored properly collectively as a trio however the group from behind got here again.
“There have been a couple of groups with a few guys, so I simply needed to choose the appropriate wheel and get a superb run to the road. We knew the end was slowly dragging uphill, however I acquired a superb little bit of slipstream and used it to launch early and held on to the end. I have been sprinting fairly properly the previous few months, so I needed to again myself.
“I am tremendous glad to get my first professional win and the fellows did an important job as we speak so due to them as properly. We’ll strategy every day because it comes, and we’ve got some good dash alternatives with Casper so we may even give attention to them too and try to go for one more win there.”
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