Tour de Mumbai II race report

Feb 13 2011 Mumbai India

This is team Terengganu Pro-Asia’s 2nd UCI race of the year. We sent 6 riders who did not have the opportunity to participate in Tour de Langkawi last month. 6 riders consist Motoi Nara of Japan and 5 young Malaysia riders. Despite a relatively new race, 2 Pro Tour teams were presented including Radio Shack which lead by 2 top sprinters Robbie McEwen and Robert Hunter, also Liquigas-Cannondale as well as experienced continental teams from USA, UK, Australia and Europe; so both the level and speed were very high.

The original 108km race was shorten to 79km due to many dangerous obstacles like animals, moving spectators and cateyes on the road! One rider from RadioShack crashed hard so the race had to be stopped and restarted. Team’s designated sprinter Motoi suffered similar misfortune as Robbie McEwen who punctured very close to the finish, but Motoi managed to catch back to the peloton after a hard chase and still managed to finish 30th position. While young TSG Malaysian rider Fakhruddin Mazuki who is just turned 19 a week ago participating in his 1st UCI race managed to finish 19th position. As expected Hunter of Radio Shack won the sprint. It was good experience for TSG young riders to rump shoulders with some of the biggest names in professional cycling.