The results shake up mountain biking series on Phnom Basit
Yoeun Phyuth thrust himself back into contention for the A1 Elite class title of the 2014 Smart Cambodia MTB Series with victory in the fourth round held at Phnom Baset on Sunday.
The 18-year-old EYC rider from Kampong Speu province dominated the race from start to finish, holding off compatriot Nhonh Lenh and Simon Gadient of Switzerland respectively.
“[Phyuth] was the fastest rider of the day,” chief organiser Pierre Yves Catry told the Post. “Nhonh Lenh was a solid second, unable to challenge Phyuth in the technical descents, but very fast in the climbs.
“Simon Gadient struggled a bit with cramps, but was still able to secure third place, ahead of Mol Sim Lim. Hong Chanmakara had a flat tyre in the third lap while running third.
“He lost several minutes pushing his bike to the tech zone and changing the wheel. After a strong fifth lap, he moved from sixth to fifth.”
Despite seizing his third win of the series, Phyuth could only move up to third place in the overall standings on 75 points, one behind Gadient and nine adrift of leader Nhonh Lenh of Flying Bikes team, who triumphed in the previous season when he was racing under the name Ngul Lech.
The A2 Experts class race was won by Flying Bikes Srey Ya, to see him share the spoils this season with female teammate Heng Sivlang on two victories each.
Sivlang’s third on Sunday behind Eng Lin, also of Flying Bikes, ensured she remained a top of the A2 table with 92 points, six clear of Srey Ya.
Flying Bikes sensation Sang Seyha grabbed his third race win on the spin in the B1 Intermediate class. The 19-year-old, who is tipped for promotion to the A1 class next year, enhanced his lead over second placed Yura Kim to 15 points after the Elevate Cycling Team rider could only finish third.
Kim Sambath stole a march on the previously perfect Le Chanthorn in the B2 Intermediate class (for over-30s). The Siem Reap cyclist took full advantage of his Mekong cycling team rival’s unexplained absence to take the 25 points on offer for the race winner and jump up to top spot on 85 points.
Chanthorn’s run of three straight victories came to an end, as he dropped down to third place with Anthony Malling of MDK Adventures sneaking up to second on 76 points.
Elevate Cycling Team’s Mong Saroeun Rin shot himself up to pole position in the C1 Novice class (14-18 years old) by finishing first at Phnom Baset, with Chut Dina in second and Chhun Lyhong in third.
The C2 Novice class (19-35) had Polrithy Sar cross the line fastest and the C3 Novice class (36 and over) featured another dominating performance by Campinoy’s Melvin Baroga, his third successive time topping the podium in 2014.
Heng Sivlang’s older sister and Flying Bikes teammate Heng Sivgech became the only rider of the competition to pass the century mark on points with her unparalleled fourth race victory out of four in the Women’s class.
Pen Sokly and Vong Soukheng, who is the niece of Sivgech, came home in second and third respectively to consolidate those positions overall for the Flying Bikes team.
Simon Gadient took full advantage of an early retirement to A1 Elite class leader Yoeun Phyuth to claim victory in the third stage of the 2014 Smart Cambodia MTB Series in Kampong Speu province on Sunday.
Expat Gadient, 29, who is a project manager at Phnom Penh-based web developers Web Essentials, stepped up his training this year to join the Kingdom’s best mountain bike riders after competing in the B Class last year, where he ended up second overall.
Following fifth- and sixth-place finishes in the opening rounds of the series, the dusty and rocky trails of Kampong Speu appeared to better suit the Swiss national as he stormed over the four 7km laps in a total time of one hour, 21 minutes and 51 seconds.
Nearly four minutes back was Flying Bikes team rider Nhonh Lenh, with Khmer Cycling Team’s Hong Chanmakara a further minute behind in third. Flying Bikes team owner and race organiser Pierre Yves Catry came fourth.
Youen Phyuth of EYCycling, who had won the first two races of the series, pulled out after the first lap on Sunday citing stomach pain, and his withdrawal sees him drop down to fourth place in the standings.
Hong Chanmakara and Nhonh Lenh moved up to share top position with 62 points each, while Gadient catapulted himself into second spot on 56 points, two points ahead of Catry.
In the A2 Experts class, Hong Sivlang once again exerted her dominance over male rivals to claim her second successive stage win in thrilling fashion.
Sivlang timed 1:11:37 over three laps of the demanding course to edge out Flying Bikes teammate Srey Ya by just three seconds, with Eng Lin coming home two minutes later for third.
The 31-year-old mother of four now leads the A2 Class by 11 points heading into the fourth and penultimate round in Kep on October 19.
v Meanwhile on Sunday, Flying Bikes’ Sang Seiha was a clear winner in the B1 Intermediate class over three laps, well beating Elevate Cycling Team’s Yura Kim and Giant team’s Nov Long, who were second and third respectively.
The B2 Class for over-30 riders, which was contested over a total distance of 19.5km, had its podium topped by Le Chanthorn of Mekong Cycling Team. Kim Sambath grabbed silver and Flying Bikes’ Ngem Samnang took bronze.
Mekong Cycling Team celebrated more success in Kampong Speu with victories for Earm Vatim and Sam Boren in the C1 Novice (14-18) and C2 Novice (19-35) classes respectively. Campinoy’s Melvin Baroga made it back-to-back wins in the C3 Novice (36 and over) section.
Heng Sivlang’s sister Sivgech was a class above in the Women’s race, completing the two laps of 6.5km almost six minutes faster than anyone else.
A boy named Apoly triumphed in the Kids class, which saw youngsters aged 13 and below whizz round five laps of a shortened course.
