Walscheid delivers on fantastic team performance to win Langkawi stage 3
Max Walscheid (NTT Pro Cycling) sprinted to a brilliant victory, underneath the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpar, on stage 3 of the Tour de Langkawi.
Stage 3 of the Tour de Langkawi was a 165km stage from Temerloh to Kuala Lumpar, including the category 1 climb of Genting Sempah which peaked with 40km to go. NTT Pro Cycling started the stage with a few cards to play, as it was not certain whether the sprinters would become detached from the peloton on the climb or not.
The early part of the stage saw 6 riders go clear, with the team of the yellow jersey, Vino-Astana Motors, taking up the chase until we hit the climb. Over the top, only one rider from the original break remained, while in the peloton, our Max Walscheid was just 200m from the back of the main group
The descent was rather tricky so Walscheid did well to manage his effort and came back to the peloton with 25km to go, with the help of the Japanese national champion, Shotaro Iribe.
It was then full steam ahead for NTT Pro Cycling as upfront, 2 riders had rejoined the lone leader and they had a gap of 1'50". Walscheid's 5 team mates all had to fully commit to the chase as no other help came from any other sprint teams.
With just 3km to go, the catch was made in the city streets of Kuala Lumpar and a sprint would decide the winner. NTT Pro Cycling then set Walscheid up for the finale and the German executed his sprint perfectly, rounding the final bend with 100m to go in the lead, and never looking back.
Max Walscheid - Rider
It was really hard today, I had to dig pretty deep on the climb to stay in contact with the group and only came back after the descent. Directly at that moment we took full responsibility with the whole team. I am super proud with our effort from the entire group here, we had to ride with our first and last guy to catch the break so in the final I was on my own. So, I am just super happy that I could finish it off because this victory belongs to the whole team.
About NTT Pro Cycling
Founded in 2007, NTT Pro Cycling (formerly Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka) became the first-ever African cycling team to gain a WorldTour license, in 2016. With the support of our headline sponsor and technology innovation partner, NTT, we are the most purpose-driven, performance-led, and technology-enabled team in pro cycling today.
Our ambition is to continue to race at the highest levels in world cycling, to develop riders to realise their full potential and to inspire and motivate people across the African continent to ride bicycles.
We have bases in South Africa, Denmark, the Netherlands and Italy.
We also ride to raise awareness for Qhubeka, a global charity operating in South Africa, through our #BicyclesChangeLives campaign.
The hands on the back of the team race jersey are a reminder that every Qhubeka bicycle is a helping hand up to a beneficiary, which are provided through Qhubeka's learn-to-earn and work-to-earn programmes
About Qhubeka
Qhubeka is a charity that moves people forward with bicycles. People earn bicycles through our programmes, improving their access to schools, clinics and jobs.
A bicycle is a tool that helps people to travel faster and further, and to carry more. In the face of extreme and persistent poverty, bicycles can change lives by helping to address socioeconomic challenges at the most basic level – helping people to get where they need to go.
About NTT Ltd.
NTT Ltd. is a global technology services company bringing together the expertise of leaders in the field, including NTT Communications, Dimension Data and NTT Security. We partner with organizations around the world to shape and achieve outcomes through intelligent technology solutions. For us, intelligent means data driven, connected, digital and secure. As a global ICT provider, we employ more than 40,000 people in a diverse and dynamic workplace and deliver services in over 200 countries and regions. Together we enable the connected future.
Visit us at our new website hello.global.ntt
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