The race of HTV Cup in Hue has long been dominated by cyclists from Ho Chi Minh City over the past years.
In this year’s competition, the domination remains despite the absence of Le Van Duan and fierce competition from Nguyen Tan Hoai and Roman Maikin of Tap Doan Loc Troi and Tran Tuan Kiet of Dopagan Dong Thap.
Tap Doan Loc Troi started the stage by sending a group of less experienced cyclists to the lead.
In the final phase of the race, Duoc Domesco Dong Thap pulled the entire pack together so that Kiet could win back the blue jersey from Quang Van Cuong of Tap Doan Loc Troi.
Duoc Domesco Dong Thap and Tap Doan Loc Troi had a fierce competition ahead of the finish line.
However, Le Nguyet Minh of Ho Chi Minh City-New Group managed to accelerate at the very last moment to narrowly overtake Kiet.
This was Minh’s first win in this year’s tournament, which means a lot to the cyclist as he had not been at the top of his game since the start.
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| Le Nguyet Minh celebrates his first win in this year’s tournament. Photo: M.Q. / Tuoi Tre |
Kiet was still able to win the blue jersey, while Cuong was the holder of the yellow jersey.
The cyclists were scheduled to compete in a 123-kilometer race from Hue City to central Da Nang City in the 12th stage on Sunday.
The HTV Cup race has been held annually since 1989 and is considered Vietnam’s ‘Tour de France.’
In its 34th edition, the competition will take 98 cyclists from 14 competing teams through 2,316.2 kilometers in 23 stages from north to south in celebration of Vietnam’s reunification day on April 30, 1975.
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