Terengganu’s Azri wins Al-Bait road race

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Abang Mohd Shibli (second right) poses with winners of the Sarawak closed category yesterday.

KUCHING: Team Terengganu’s Mohd Azri Ahmad won the inauguraul Al-Bait Cycle Race at Petra Jaya yesterday.

The 120km road race with the last 50km a four-lap affair around the Petra Jaya area was held in a steady drizzle.

After the start at the Bangunan Islam Komplekx, Team Terengganu went on the attack almost immediately.

Team Corbusier sent Charles Diking and Yudhi Rachmad to  join the early break.

After 45km of racing, the peloton reeled in the escapees.

The wet conditions resulted in cautious racing with the pack staying together until the 70km mark.

At the 70km mark, the ‘inevitable’ happened with a crash which split the peloton.

The group in front promptly rode away to form two big groups with those affected by the crash in the chase group.

Azri sealed his win and the RM1,500 cheque when he broke away in the final lap to win in 2hr 35min 9sec.

Team Brunei’s Abdul Hadri Morsidi was second, 1min 18sec adrift.

Team Giant’s Suhardi Hassan settled for third after losing to Hadri by a wheel in the sprint finish.

“I went for it with 500m to go but the Brunei guy came from behind me and I could only hang on,” said Suhardi.

Corbusier’s Fito Prilanji was fourth, half a wheel behind with Terengganu’s Muhd Nur Anmman fifth.

In the Sarawak closed category, Miri’s Reduan Yusop was the surprise winner in 2hr 37min 57sec after avoiding being caught in the crash.

Kuching’s Andy Kueh was second with Saxon Racing’s Patrick Siqueen and Corbusier’s Azka Nabil Aduka third and fourth respectively.

They were all credited with the same time of 2hr 43min 48sec.

Al-Bait Cycling-Corbusier’s Zulkaisi Razali was fifth, just a second behind.

Koperasi Al-Bait Sarawak Berhad chairman and chief organiser Datu Abang Mohd Shibli Abang Nailie presented the prizes to the winners at Medan Hamidah.