McCann solos to win in Taiwan opener
Irishman finds success after nearly dropping out
Irishman David McCann of the Giant Asia Racing Team took home the victory in the first stage of the Tour de Taiwan. The ride was not exceptionally tough even by his standard, but from nearly missing the race altogether, the day was indeed extraordinary for McCann.
The 37-year-old from Irishman said after the more than four hour ride from Kaoshiung to Chiayi that he almost gave the race a pass.
"I was struggling with a chest infection and I almost did not want to race today but I felt a little better and decided to give it a shot," said McCann, who not only took the stage but also will be in the Tour leader yellow jersey for being at the top of the General Classification .
"The weather was warm today but not as hot as it was in Malaysia. And it being a fast route today with the wind behind us, we were able to come in with a decent time even though there were two climbs on the day.
"I hope that I will be able to maintain my lead in the next few days with the help of my teammates."
Starting off from the World Games Stadium in Kaohsiung, the peloton did not immediately jump into action with the first breakaway occurring at just after the first climb outside Lingkuo which was won by Taiwan's Feng Chun Kai from the Action Cycling team.
The 20-man breakaway did not work in tandem to build the lead and not soon after was caught by the peloton as they head into the second climb at Nanhua.
With Malaysia's Rizuan Zainal coming in second at the first climb and then taking the second one at Nanhua, he will start tomorrow's stage two in the Red Polka Dot jersey of the King of the Mountain.
"I had a good work programme at the Tour de Langkawi (in Malaysia) and that probably gave me the push for the climb," added the 24-year-old, who finished 75th overall in the GC and also 5th overall in the KOM at the Tour de Langkawi.
"I was confident for the climb and I hope that I can pick up more points in the next several days."
The sprinter's green jersey was led by McCann based on points at the finish .
Following a second breakaway by ten riders heading into Wusanto Reservoir, the peloton just seem to lose steam as they allowed the frontrunners an easy ride to the finish.
What made the win more spectacular for McCann, who had struggled somewhat in Langkawi barely a week ago, was the fact that he had ridden into Alishan all by himself in the last 5km.
"Thank god that we are not going up Alishan and with this year's race devoid of any serious mountain climb, I have a fair chance of keeping the GC all the way to the end," added McCann.
The best ranked Asian rider is Cheung King Wei, who ended the day on fifth in the GC.
"The weather is very hot and the course was a lot harder than I expected. And because we are not allowed to use race radio, I had to make the decision whether to keep with the team or just go in the front," added King Wei, who came in with the second group of riders.
"But the race today was fantastic as it did not end in a bunch finish."
Stage Two tomorrow will be played out in the county of Chiayi with the peloton completing a course of some 137km in and around several famous landmarks.
The race will begin in Chiayi City Hall before passing the Lantan Scenic Resort, the Budai Salt Mountain and on to Yu Chia Nan Haomeiliao Nature Preeserve to finish at the Singang Fongtian Temple.
And while it might be a rest day for the climber, the peloton however will face three sprints along the way - two near the Chiayi County Hall and another at the Fongtan Temple.
1 | David McCann (Irl) Giant Asia Racing Team | 3:11:40 |
2 | William Clarke (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers | 0:00:07 |
3 | Phillip Gaimon (Usa) Kenda Presented By Gear Grinder | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 | Chun Kai Feng (Tpe) Act | 0:00:21 |
5 | King Wai Cheung (Hkg) Hong Kong, China | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
6 | Takashi Miyazawa (Jpn) Japan | 0:00:40 |
7 | Dean Downing (Gbr) Rapha Condor - Sharp | 0:00:47 |
8 | Roger Beuchat (Swi) Ckt Tmit - Champion System | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Ki Ho Choi (Hkg) Hong Kong, China | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 | Suhardi Hassan (Mas) Malaysia | 0:00:57 |
11 | Takeaki Ayabe (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | Hidenori Nodera (Jpn) Shimano Racing | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 | Mart Ojavee (Est) Ckt Tmit - Champion System | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
14 | René Hooghiemster (Ned) Netherlands | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
15 | Fan Hsin Chu (Tpe) | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Tomas Smolen (Pol) Ccc Polsat Polkowice | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 | Kenji Itami (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Yuzuru Suzuki (Jpn) Shimano Racing | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
19 | Shu Ming Liu (Tpe) | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Tomoya Kano (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor | 0:01:00 |
21 | Patria Rastra (Ina) Psn | 0:01:09 |
22 | Jacob Rytlewski (Usa) Kenda Presented By Gear Grinder | 0:02:30 |
23 | Kin San Wu (Hkg) Hong Kong, China | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
24 | Wei Cheng Lee (Tpe) Act | 0:03:17 |
25 | Shih Chang Huang (Tpe) Act | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
26 | Wei Chieh Liu (Tpe) Act | Row 25 - Cell 2 |
27 | Kam-Po Wong (Hkg) Hong Kong, China | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Chih Feng Liu (Tpe) | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Deon Locke (Aus) Ckt Tmit - Champion System | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
30 | Tsun Kuei Chen (Tpe) | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 | Yusrizal Usoff (Mas) Malaysia | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Jaroslaw Rebiewski (Pol) Ccc Polsat Polkowice | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Jumpei Murakami (Jpn) Shimano Racing | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 | Chad Hartley (Usa) Kenda Presented By Gear Grinder | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Kuan Hua Lai (Tpe) Giant Asia Racing Team | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Alex Coutts (Gbr) Giant Asia Racing Team | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | Kohei Uchima (Jpn) Japan | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Ben Greenwood (Gbr) Rapha Condor - Sharp | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
39 | Yin-Chih Wang (Tpe) Ckt Tmit - Champion System | 0:03:22 |
40 | Jong Kwang Kim (Kor) Geumsan Ginseng Asia | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 | Chin Lung Huang (Tpe) | 0:05:09 |
42 | Ben Grenda (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
43 | An Lung Hsieh (Tpe) | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 | Eugen Wacker (Kgz) Giant Asia Racing Team | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
45 | Chun Liang Pan (Tpe) | 0:05:56 |
46 | Mohd Nor Rizuan Zainal (Mas) Malaysia | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
47 | Masahiro Shinagawa (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Haan Wouter (Ned) Netherlands | 0:06:31 |
49 | Nathan Haas (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 | Wen Lung Chien (Tpe) | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Chia Chun Chen (Tpe) Act | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Seiichi Koshinomi (Jpn) Japan | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Chia Hong Yang (Tpe) | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Shih Hsin Hsiao (Tpe) | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Arjen Ten Dam (Ned) Netherlands | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Ssu Ju Peng (Tpe) | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Herwin Jaya (Ina) Psn | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
58 | Nara Motoi (Jpn) Geumsan Ginseng Asia | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
59 | Cheng Chen Su (Tpe) | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 | Adrian Honkisz (Pol) Ccc Polsat Polkowice | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | Jun-Oh Kwon (Kor) Geumsan Ginseng Asia | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Bartlomiej Matysiak (Pol) Ccc Polsat Polkowice | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
63 | Tomasz Kiendys (Pol) Ccc Polsat Polkowice | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
64 | Chad Burdzilauskas (Usa) Kenda Presented By Gear Grinder | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
65 | Jonathan Sundt (Usa) Kenda Presented By Gear Grinder | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
66 | Yoshinori Iino (Jpn) Shimano Racing | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
67 | Ivor Bruin (Ned) Netherlands | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
68 | Tomohiro Hayakawa (Jpn) Japan | Row 67 - Cell 2 |
69 | Dean Windsor (Aus) Rapha Condor - Sharp | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
70 | Mathew Cronshaw (Gbr) Rapha Condor - Sharp | Row 69 - Cell 2 |
71 | Kyle Marwood (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers | Row 70 - Cell 2 |
72 | Shuai-Chun Chiang (Tpe) | Row 71 - Cell 2 |
73 | Ali Ahmad Fallanie (Mas) Malaysia | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
74 | Nonaka Ryoma (Jpn) Japan | Row 73 - Cell 2 |
75 | Yung Hua Cheng (Tpe) | Row 74 - Cell 2 |
76 | Wan Mohammed Najmee Wan Mohammed (Mas) Malaysia | Row 75 - Cell 2 |
77 | Shinpei Fukuda (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | Row 76 - Cell 2 |
78 | Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Ckt Tmit - Champion System | Row 77 - Cell 2 |
79 | Young Uk Kim (Kor) Geumsan Ginseng Asia | Row 78 - Cell 2 |
80 | Hari Fitrianto (Ina) Psn | Row 79 - Cell 2 |
81 | Ying Hon Yeung (Hkg) Hong Kong, China | Row 80 - Cell 2 |
82 | Shinichi Fukushima (Jpn) Geumsan Ginseng Asia | Row 81 - Cell 2 |
83 | Shinri Suzuki (Jpn) Shimano Racing | Row 82 - Cell 2 |
84 | Masamichi Yamamoto (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor | Row 83 - Cell 2 |
85 | Barati Rasoul (Iri) Giant Asia Racing Team | Row 84 - Cell 2 |
86 | Sergey Kudentsov (Rus) Psn | Row 85 - Cell 2 |
87 | Roman Krasilnikov (Rus) Psn | Row 86 - Cell 2 |
88 | Takumi Beppu (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | Row 87 - Cell 2 |
89 | Taiji Nishitani (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | Row 88 - Cell 2 |
90 | Miyataka Shimizu (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor | 0:07:48 |
91 | Yoshiyuki Shimizu (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor | 0:08:14 |
92 | Tosser Chiu (Tpe) | Row 91 - Cell 2 |
93 | Chia Hung Lin (Tpe) | 0:08:21 |
94 | Graham Briggs (Gbr) Rapha Condor - Sharp | 0:08:34 |
95 | Nathan Earle (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers | 0:10:35 |
96 | Melvin Boskamp (Ned) Netherlands | 0:06:31 |
DNF | Che Hung Liu (Tpe) | Row 96 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Wen Chung Huang (Tpe) | Row 97 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Eric Fang (Tpe) | Row 98 - Cell 2 |
DNF | Cheng Chien Tsai (Tpe) | Row 99 - Cell 2 |
1 | David McCann (Irl) Giant Asia Racing Team | 3:11:30 |
2 | William Clarke (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers | 0:11:00 |
3 | Phillip Gaimon (Usa) Kenda Presented By Gear Grinder | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 | King Wai Cheung (Hkg) Hong Kong, China | 0:27:00 |
5 | Chun Kai Feng (Tpe) Act | 0:31:00 |
6 | Takashi Miyazawa (Jpn) Japan | 0:50:00 |
7 | Ki Ho Choi (Hkg) Hong Kong, China | 0:55:00 |
8 | Dean Downing (Gbr) Rapha Condor - Sharp | 0:57:00 |
9 | Roger Beuchat (Swi) Ckt Tmit - Champion System | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 | Yuzuru Suzuki (Jpn) Shimano Racing | 0:01:04 |
11 | Suhardi Hassan (Mas) Malaysia | 0:01:07 |
12 | Takeaki Ayabe (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 | Hidenori Nodera (Jpn) Shimano Racing | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
14 | Mart Ojavee (Est) Ckt Tmit - Champion System | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
15 | René Hooghiemster (Ned) Netherlands | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Fan Hsin Chu (Tpe) | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 | Tomas Smolen (Pol) Ccc Polsat Polkowice | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Kenji Itami (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
19 | Shu Ming Liu (Tpe) | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Tomoya Kano (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor | 0:01:10 |
21 | Patria Rastra (Ina) Psn | 0:01:19 |
22 | Jacob Rytlewski (Usa) Kenda Presented By Gear Grinder | 0:02:40 |
23 | Kin San Wu (Hkg) Hong Kong, China | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
24 | Wei Cheng Lee (Tpe) Act | 0:03:27 |
25 | Shih Chang Huang (Tpe) Act | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
26 | Wei Chieh Liu (Tpe) Act | Row 25 - Cell 2 |
27 | Kam-Po Wong (Hkg) Hong Kong, China | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Chih Feng Liu (Tpe) | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Deon Locke (Aus) Ckt Tmit - Champion System | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
30 | Tsun Kuei Chen (Tpe) | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 | Yusrizal Usoff (Mas) Malaysia | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Jaroslaw Rebiewski (Pol) Ccc Polsat Polkowice | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Jumpei Murakami (Jpn) Shimano Racing | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 | Chad Hartley (Usa) Kenda Presented By Gear Grinder | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Kuan Hua Lai (Tpe) Giant Asia Racing Team | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Alex Coutts (Gbr) Giant Asia Racing Team | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | Kohei Uchima (Jpn) Japan | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Ben Greenwood (Gbr) Rapha Condor - Sharp | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
39 | Yin-Chih Wang (Tpe) Ckt Tmit - Champion System | 0:03:32 |
40 | Jong Kwang Kim (Kor) Geumsan Ginseng Asia | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 | Chin Lung Huang (Tpe) | 0:05:19 |
42 | Ben Grenda (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
43 | An Lung Hsieh (Tpe) | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 | Eugen Wacker (Kgz) Giant Asia Racing Team | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
45 | Chun Liang Pan (Tpe) | 0:06:06 |
46 | Mohd Nor Rizuan Zainal (Mas) Malaysia | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
47 | Masahiro Shinagawa (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Haan Wouter (Ned) Netherlands | 0:06:41 |
49 | Nathan Haas (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 | Wen Lung Chien (Tpe) | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Chia Chun Chen (Tpe) Act | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Seiichi Koshinomi (Jpn) Japan | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Chia Hong Yang (Tpe) | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Shih Hsin Hsiao (Tpe) | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Arjen Ten Dam (Ned) Netherlands | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Ssu Ju Peng (Tpe) | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Herwin Jaya (Ina) Psn | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
58 | Nara Motoi (Jpn) Geumsan Ginseng Asia | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
59 | Cheng Chen Su (Tpe) | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 | Adrian Honkisz (Pol) Ccc Polsat Polkowice | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | Jun-Oh Kwon (Kor) Geumsan Ginseng Asia | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Bartlomiej Matysiak (Pol) Ccc Polsat Polkowice | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
63 | Tomasz Kiendys (Pol) Ccc Polsat Polkowice | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
64 | Chad Burdzilauskas (Usa) Kenda Presented By Gear Grinder | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
65 | Jonathan Sundt (Usa) Kenda Presented By Gear Grinder | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
66 | Yoshinori Iino (Jpn) Shimano Racing | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
67 | Ivor Bruin (Ned) Netherlands | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
68 | Tomohiro Hayakawa (Jpn) Japan | Row 67 - Cell 2 |
69 | Dean Windsor (Aus) Rapha Condor - Sharp | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
70 | Mathew Cronshaw (Gbr) Rapha Condor - Sharp | Row 69 - Cell 2 |
71 | Kyle Marwood (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers | Row 70 - Cell 2 |
72 | Shuai-Chun Chiang (Tpe) | Row 71 - Cell 2 |
73 | Ali Ahmad Fallanie (Mas) Malaysia | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
74 | Nonaka Ryoma (Jpn) Japan | Row 73 - Cell 2 |
75 | Yung Hua Cheng (Tpe) | Row 74 - Cell 2 |
76 | Wan Mohammed Najmee Wan Mohammed (Mas) Malaysia | Row 75 - Cell 2 |
77 | Shinpei Fukuda (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | Row 76 - Cell 2 |
78 | Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Ckt Tmit - Champion System | Row 77 - Cell 2 |
79 | Young Uk Kim (Kor) Geumsan Ginseng Asia | Row 78 - Cell 2 |
80 | Hari Fitrianto (Ina) Psn | Row 79 - Cell 2 |
81 | Ying Hon Yeung (Hkg) Hong Kong, China | Row 80 - Cell 2 |
82 | Shinichi Fukushima (Jpn) Geumsan Ginseng Asia | Row 81 - Cell 2 |
83 | Shinri Suzuki (Jpn) Shimano Racing | Row 82 - Cell 2 |
84 | Masamichi Yamamoto (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor | Row 83 - Cell 2 |
85 | Barati Rasoul (Iri) Giant Asia Racing Team | Row 84 - Cell 2 |
86 | Sergey Kudentsov (Rus) Psn | Row 85 - Cell 2 |
87 | Roman Krasilnikov (Rus) Psn | Row 86 - Cell 2 |
88 | Takumi Beppu (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | Row 87 - Cell 2 |
89 | Taiji Nishitani (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | Row 88 - Cell 2 |
90 | Melvin Boskamp (Ned) Netherlands | Row 89 - Cell 2 |
91 | Miyataka Shimizu (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor | 0:07:58 |
92 | Yoshiyuki Shimizu (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor | 0:08:23 |
93 | Tosser Chiu (Tpe) | 0:08:24 |
94 | Chia Hung Lin (Tpe) | 0:08:31 |
95 | Graham Briggs (Gbr) Rapha Condor - Sharp | 0:08:44 |
96 | Nathan Earle (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers | 0:10:45 |
1 | David McCann (Irl) Giant Asia Racing Team |
2 | Philip Gaimon (USA) Kenda presented by Geargrinder |
1 | Zainal Rizuan Zainal (Mas) Malaysia National Team |
1 | Cheung King Wai (HKg) Hong Kong Team |
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