>>> Cycling tour kicks off to mark National Reunification Day
Cyclist Nguyen Truong Tai from VUS Ho Chi Minh City successfully protected his overall yellow jersey.
Entering the last leg, the competition was fierce with the gap between yellow jersey Tai and his close follower Huynh Thanh Tung from Military Zone 7 at only one second.
Tai’s teammates at VUS Ho Chi Minh City did well in supporting and protecting him against attacks from the strongest opponents of Military Zone 7 and Pharmaceutical Domesco Dong Thap.
The fierce competition among strong teams created favourable conditions for other riders to detach and go ahead. Cyclist Quang Van Cuong from Dong Da Hanoi made a strong spurt to finish first in the last stage with an overall time of 3:49.02.
Although crossing the line nearly two minutes later, Tai successfully defended his overall yellow jersey, as he finished in the same group with Tung, making the 1 second gap unchanged. This is the shortest gap in the history of the tournament over the past 28 years.
It is also the second consecutive year Tai won the tournament’s final yellow jersey.
The overall green jersey belonged to Nguyen Thanh Tam from Gao Hat Ngoc Troi An Giang as he won six out of 19 stages of the race. The red jersey for the mountains classification leader went to Nguyen Tan Hoai from Pharmaceutical Domesco Dong Thap. Although failing in competing for the overall yellow jersey, with the final second place, Tung won the white jersey as the best young cyclist.
In the team ranking, with a uniform squad, Gao Hat Ngoc Troi An Giang won the highest throne, followed by Military Zone 7 and VUS Ho Chi Minh City.
The race attracted the participation of 78 cyclists from 13 teams across the nation, competing in 19 stages covering a total of 2,100km throughout 17 provinces and cities starting from Hanoi.
Held annually since 1988 by the Vietnam Sports Bicycle and Motorbike Federation and Ho Chi Minh City Television, it is part of activities to mark the anniversary of the Southern Liberation and National Reunification Day (April 30).
