Shimizu takes a sprint win at Hsingang
McCann maintains his overall lead
It was probably the best move he's ever made in his career and for Shimizu Miyataka riding on the tail of Hong Kong's prolific Kam Po Wong gifted him the second stage of thius year's Tour de Taiwan.
The 136km flat journey from Chiayi City Hall to the historically spiritual finish at the Fentien Temple might not have promised much but the end was anything but predictable.
"We had the right strategy in place for this stage and with the terrain being flat, there's every possibility that one of us can take it," said Shimizu.
"The final lap was important and I tailed Kam Po before hitting the gas at the end; it was a little gamble but it being my first time here, it was a chance and a fight I was willing to take - and it paid off."
The several breakaways throughout the day did not yield the advantage some of the riders were looking for.
And despite the ban on radio communication, there was enough experience in the peloton to make sure that only a few riders with the right kilometres in their legs survived going into the final sprint at the Fengtien Temple.
For Wong, the advantage he thought he had after building a steady lead going into the three-round circuit in and around Fengtien Temple evaporated in the last 300m.
"My teammate (Choi Ki Ho, winner of the Madison at the Track World Cup in Beijing earlier this year) had led at the last two kilometres and when I went on my way, I did not realise the Japanese rider was following me," said Wong.
"By the time I wanted to shake him off, he was already pushing past me and by then it was already too late."
With David McCann sitting comfortably and well-protected by his Giant Asia Racing team, the lanky Irishman still holds the tour leader yellow jersey and the sprinters' green jersey heading into tomorrow's stage three in Changhua County.
"The team worked really well today and our aim was just to protect the yellow jersey. I think that we should not have a problem in keeping it until the end of the tour," said McCann afterwards.
The Malaysian national team is also applying the same strategy in as far as their ultimate target for the Tour de Taiwan is concerned.
Following its strong start when Rezuan Zainal rode into the king of the mountains jersey in stage one, the race today, which was devoid of any climbs, saw them sitting back in preparation for the several first and second category mountains in the next few days.
"The plan is to protect the jersey until the end while at the same time, we are also aiming to try to win at least one stage," added Rezuan.
"The weather here is not too bad and it is certainly not as hot as Malaysia. But since there are no big climbs this time round, I think that we are quite confident of keeping the jersey."
For the current best Asian rider, Cheung King Wei of Hong Kong, he was just not willing to sit back and protect the jersey.
"It could have been an easy ride but I tried to go for the stage win when I went in front with the breakaway group - but I was caught," said Cheung.
"For the next couple of days, I will have to pay special attention to Feng (Chun Kai). He seems to be quite strong."
Stage three will start from Baguashan Buddha - one of the biggest in Taiwan - before passing through Lugang Old Town, Sijhou Flower Park and then returning to finish at Baguashan. With a category two climb and two sprints, the 136km ride will be anything but leisurely.
1 | Miyataka Shimizu (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor | 3:22:00 |
2 | Kam-Po Wong (HKg) Hong Kong, China | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
3 | Tomas Smolen (Pol) Ccc Polsat Polkowice | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 | Mohd Nor Rizuan Zainal (Mas) Malaysia | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
5 | Takashi Miyazawa (Jpn) Japan | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
6 | Takeaki Ayabe (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
7 | Young Uk Kim (Kor) Geumsan Ginseng Asia | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
8 | Graham Briggs (GBr) Rapha Condor - Sharp | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
9 | Dean Downing (GBr) Rapha Condor - Sharp | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 | Kyle Marwood (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
11 | Herwin Jaya (Ina) Psn | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
12 | Ben Grenda (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
13 | Chad Hartley (USA) Kenda Presented By Gear Grinder | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
14 | Eugen Wacker (Kgz) Giant Asia Racing Team | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
15 | Wan Mohammed Najmee Wan Mohammed (Mas) Malaysia | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Yung Hua Cheng (Tpe) | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 | Kin San Wu (HKg) Hong Kong, China | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Roman Krasilnikov (Rus) Psn | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
19 | Patria Rastra (Ina) Psn | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Nara Motoi (Jpn) Geumsan Ginseng Asia | Row 19 - Cell 2 |
21 | Wei Cheng Lee (Tpe) Act | Row 20 - Cell 2 |
22 | Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Ckt Tmit - Champion System | Row 21 - Cell 2 |
23 | David Mccann (Irl) Giant Asia Racing Team | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
24 | Arjen Ten Dam (Ned) Netherlands | Row 23 - Cell 2 |
25 | Mathew Cronshaw (GBr) Rapha Condor - Sharp | Row 24 - Cell 2 |
26 | Masahiro Shinagawa (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | Row 25 - Cell 2 |
27 | Jumpei Murakami (Jpn) Shimano Racing | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Masamichi Yamamoto (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Shih Hsin Hsiao (Tpe) | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
30 | Shih Chang Huang (Tpe) Act | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 | Wei Chieh Liu (Tpe) Act | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Yuzuru Suzuki (Jpn) Shimano Racing | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Bartlomiej Matysiak (Pol) Ccc Polsat Polkowice | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 | Chun Kai Feng (Tpe) Act | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Shu Ming Liu (Tpe) | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Deon Locke (Aus) Ckt Tmit - Champion System | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | Jacob Rytlewski (USA) Kenda Presented By Gear Grinder | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | René Hooghiemster (Ned) Netherlands | Row 37 - Cell 2 |
39 | Jaroslaw Rebiewski (Pol) Ccc Polsat Polkowice | Row 38 - Cell 2 |
40 | Ssu Ju Peng (Tpe) | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 | Kohei Uchima (Jpn) Japan | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
42 | Roger Beuchat (Swi) Ckt Tmit - Champion System | Row 41 - Cell 2 |
43 | Phillip Gaimon (USA) Kenda Presented By Gear Grinder | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 | Tomoya Kano (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
45 | Ki Ho Choi (HKg) Hong Kong, China | Row 44 - Cell 2 |
46 | Haan Wouter (Ned) Netherlands | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
47 | William Clarke (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Yin-Chih Wang (Tpe) Ckt Tmit - Champion System | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Kenji Itami (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 | Hidenori Nodera (Jpn) Shimano Racing | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Cheng Chen Su (Tpe) | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Mart Ojavee (Est) Ckt Tmit - Champion System | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Ivor Bruin (Ned) Netherlands | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Fan Hsin Chu (Tpe) | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Suhardi Hassan (Mas) Malaysia | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Chia Chun Chen (Tpe) Act | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Adrian Honkisz (Pol) Ccc Polsat Polkowice | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
58 | King Wai Cheung (HKg) Hong Kong, China | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
59 | Chih Feng Liu (Tpe) | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 | Nathan Haas (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | Wen Lung Chien (Tpe) | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Alex Coutts (Gbr) Giant Asia Racing Team | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
63 | Tomasz Kiendys (Pol) Ccc Polsat Polkowice | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
64 | Barati Rasoul (Iri) Giant Asia Racing Team | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
65 | Kuan Hua Lai (Tpe) Giant Asia Racing Team | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
66 | Yusrizal Usoff (Mas) Malaysia | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
67 | Ying Hon Yeung (HKg) Hong Kong, China | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
68 | Seiichi Koshinomi (Jpn) Japan | Row 67 - Cell 2 |
69 | Ben Greenwood (GBr) Rapha Condor - Sharp | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
70 | Jonathan Sundt (USA) Kenda Presented By Gear Grinder | Row 69 - Cell 2 |
71 | Chad Burdzilauskas (USA) Kenda Presented By Gear Grinder | Row 70 - Cell 2 |
72 | Chun Liang Pan (Tpe) | Row 71 - Cell 2 |
73 | Shinpei Fukuda (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
74 | Ali Ahmad Fallanie (Mas) Malaysia | Row 73 - Cell 2 |
75 | Chin Lung Huang (Tpe) | Row 74 - Cell 2 |
76 | Jun-Oh Kwon (Kor) Geumsan Ginseng Asia | Row 75 - Cell 2 |
77 | Shuai-Chun Chiang (Tpe) | 0:00:20 |
78 | Sergey Kudentsov (Rus) Psn | Row 77 - Cell 2 |
79 | Taiji Nishitani (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | 0:00:22 |
80 | Tomohiro Hayakawa (Jpn) Japan | 0:00:24 |
81 | Yoshiyuki Shimizu (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor | 0:00:38 |
82 | Takumi Beppu (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | 0:00:46 |
83 | Dean Windsor (Aus) Rapha Condor - Sharp | 0:01:45 |
84 | Shinri Suzuki (Jpn) Shimano Racing | 0:01:59 |
85 | Tsun Kuei Chen (Tpe) | 0:03:16 |
86 | An Lung Hsieh (Tpe) | 0:03:46 |
87 | Chia Hung Lin (Tpe) | 0:03:56 |
88 | Tosser Chiu (Tpe) | Row 87 - Cell 2 |
89 | Nathan Earle (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers | 0:04:52 |
90 | Jong Kwang Kim (Kor) Geumsan Ginseng Asia | Row 89 - Cell 2 |
91 | Chia Hong Yang (Tpe) | Row 90 - Cell 2 |
92 | Nonaka Ryoma (Jpn) Japan | 0:07:07 |
93 | Yoshinori Iino (Jpn) Shimano Racing | 0:08:40 |
94 | Hari Fitrianto (Ina) Psn | 0:09:07 |
95 | Shinichi Fukushima (Jpn) Geumsan Ginseng Asia | 0:10:00 |
DNS | Melvin Boskamp (Ned) Netherlands | Row 95 - Cell 2 |
1 | David McCann (Irl) Giant Asia Racing Team | 6:33:30 |
2 | Phillip Gaimon (USA) Kenda Presented By Gear Grinder | 0:00:11 |
3 | William Clarke (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
4 | King Wai Cheung (HKg) Hong Kong, China | 0:00:27 |
5 | Chun Kai Feng (Tpe) Act | 0:00:31 |
6 | Takashi Miyazawa (Jpn) Japan | 0:00:50 |
7 | Ki Ho Choi (HKg) Hong Kong, China | 0:00:55 |
8 | Dean Downing (GBr) Rapha Condor - Sharp | 0:00:57 |
9 | Roger Beuchat (Swi) Ckt Tmit - Champion System | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
10 | Tomas Smolen (Pol) Ccc Polsat Polkowice | 0:01:03 |
11 | Yuzuru Suzuki (Jpn) Shimano Racing | 0:01:04 |
12 | Takeaki Ayabe (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | 0:01:07 |
13 | René Hooghiemster (Ned) Netherlands | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
14 | Shu Ming Liu (Tpe) | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
15 | Hidenori Nodera (Jpn) Shimano Racing | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
16 | Mart Ojavee (Est) Ckt Tmit - Champion System | Row 15 - Cell 2 |
17 | Suhardi Hassan (Mas) Malaysia | Row 16 - Cell 2 |
18 | Kenji Itami (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor | Row 17 - Cell 2 |
19 | Fan Hsin Chu (Tpe) | Row 18 - Cell 2 |
20 | Tomoya Kano (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor | 0:01:10 |
21 | Patria Rastra (Ina) Psn | 0:01:19 |
22 | Kin San Wu (HKg) Hong Kong, China | 0:02:40 |
23 | Jacob Rytlewski (USA) Kenda Presented By Gear Grinder | Row 22 - Cell 2 |
24 | Kam-Po Wong (HKg) Hong Kong, China | 0:03:21 |
25 | Wei Cheng Lee (Tpe) Act | 0:03:27 |
26 | Chad Hartley (USA) Kenda Presented By Gear Grinder | Row 25 - Cell 2 |
27 | Shih Chang Huang (Tpe) Act | Row 26 - Cell 2 |
28 | Wei Chieh Liu (Tpe) Act | Row 27 - Cell 2 |
29 | Jumpei Murakami (Jpn) Shimano Racing | Row 28 - Cell 2 |
30 | Deon Locke (Aus) Ckt Tmit - Champion System | Row 29 - Cell 2 |
31 | Jaroslaw Rebiewski (Pol) Ccc Polsat Polkowice | Row 30 - Cell 2 |
32 | Kohei Uchima (Jpn) Japan | Row 31 - Cell 2 |
33 | Chih Feng Liu (Tpe) | Row 32 - Cell 2 |
34 | Yusrizal Usoff (Mas) Malaysia | Row 33 - Cell 2 |
35 | Alex Coutts (Gbr) Giant Asia Racing Team | Row 34 - Cell 2 |
36 | Kuan Hua Lai (Tpe) Giant Asia Racing Team | Row 35 - Cell 2 |
37 | Ben Greenwood (Gbr) Rapha Condor - Sharp | Row 36 - Cell 2 |
38 | Yin-Chih Wang (Tpe) Ckt Tmit - Champion System | 0:03:32 |
39 | Ben Grenda (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers | 0:05:19 |
40 | Eugen Wacker (Kgz) Giant Asia Racing Team | Row 39 - Cell 2 |
41 | Chin Lung Huang (Tpe) | Row 40 - Cell 2 |
42 | Mohd Nor Rizuan Zainal (Mas) Malaysia | 0:06:06 |
43 | Masahiro Shinagawa (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | Row 42 - Cell 2 |
44 | Chun Liang Pan (Tpe) | Row 43 - Cell 2 |
45 | Herwin Jaya (Ina) Psn | 0:06:41 |
46 | Nara Motoi (Jpn) Geumsan Ginseng Asia | Row 45 - Cell 2 |
47 | Arjen Ten Dam (Ned) Netherlands | Row 46 - Cell 2 |
48 | Kyle Marwood (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers | Row 47 - Cell 2 |
49 | Shih Hsin Hsiao (Tpe) | Row 48 - Cell 2 |
50 | Young Uk Kim (Kor) Geumsan Ginseng Asia | Row 49 - Cell 2 |
51 | Wan Mohammed Najmee Wan Mohammed (Mas) Malaysia | Row 50 - Cell 2 |
52 | Yung Hua Cheng (Tpe) | Row 51 - Cell 2 |
53 | Haan Wouter (Ned) Netherlands | Row 52 - Cell 2 |
54 | Mathew Cronshaw (Gbr) Rapha Condor - Sharp | Row 53 - Cell 2 |
55 | Bartlomiej Matysiak (Pol) Ccc Polsat Polkowice | Row 54 - Cell 2 |
56 | Ssu Ju Peng (Tpe) | Row 55 - Cell 2 |
57 | Jaan Kirsipuu (Est) Ckt Tmit - Champion System | Row 56 - Cell 2 |
58 | Roman Krasilnikov (Rus) Psn | Row 57 - Cell 2 |
59 | Chia Chun Chen (Tpe) Act | Row 58 - Cell 2 |
60 | Nathan Haas (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers | Row 59 - Cell 2 |
61 | Cheng Chen Su (Tpe) | Row 60 - Cell 2 |
62 | Wen Lung Chien (Tpe) | Row 61 - Cell 2 |
63 | Masamichi Yamamoto (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor | Row 62 - Cell 2 |
64 | Adrian Honkisz (Pol) Ccc Polsat Polkowice | Row 63 - Cell 2 |
65 | Ivor Bruin (Ned) Netherlands | Row 64 - Cell 2 |
66 | Seiichi Koshinomi (Jpn) Japan | Row 65 - Cell 2 |
67 | Tomasz Kiendys (Pol) Ccc Polsat Polkowice | Row 66 - Cell 2 |
68 | Jonathan Sundt (USA) Kenda Presented By Gear Grinder | Row 67 - Cell 2 |
69 | Chad Burdzilauskas (USA) Kenda Presented By Gear Grinder | Row 68 - Cell 2 |
70 | Jun-Oh Kwon (Kor) Geumsan Ginseng Asia | Row 69 - Cell 2 |
71 | Ali Ahmad Fallanie (Mas) Malaysia | Row 70 - Cell 2 |
72 | Ying Hon Yeung (HKg) Hong Kong, China | Row 71 - Cell 2 |
73 | Barati Rasoul (Iri) Giant Asia Racing Team | Row 72 - Cell 2 |
74 | Shinpei Fukuda (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | Row 73 - Cell 2 |
75 | Tsun Kuei Chen (Tpe) | 0:06:43 |
76 | Shuai-Chun Chiang (Tpe) | 0:07:01 |
77 | Sergey Kudentsov (Rus) Psn | Row 76 - Cell 2 |
78 | Taiji Nishitani (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | 0:07:03 |
79 | Tomohiro Hayakawa (Jpn) Japan | 0:07:05 |
80 | Takumi Beppu (Jpn) Aisan Racing Team | 0:07:27 |
81 | Miyataka Shimizu (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor | 0:07:48 |
82 | Jong Kwang Kim (Kor) Geumsan Ginseng Asia | 0:08:24 |
83 | Dean Windsor (Aus) Rapha Condor - Sharp | 0:08:26 |
84 | Shinri Suzuki (Jpn) Shimano Racing | 0:08:40 |
85 | Graham Briggs (GBr) Rapha Condor - Sharp | 0:08:44 |
86 | Yoshiyuki Shimizu (Jpn) Bridgestone Anchor | 0:09:01 |
87 | An Lung Hsieh (Tpe) | 0:09:05 |
88 | Chia Hong Yang (Tpe) | 0:11:33 |
89 | Tosser Chiu (Tpe) | 0:12:20 |
90 | Chia Hung Lin (Tpe) | 0:12:27 |
91 | Nonaka Ryoma (Jpn) Japan | 0:13:46 |
92 | Yoshinori Iino (Jpn) Shimano Racing | 0:15:16 |
93 | Nathan Earle (Aus) Genesys Wealth Advisers | 0:15:37 |
94 | Hari Fitrianto (Ina) Psn | 0:15:40 |
95 | Shinichi Fukushima (Jpn) Geumsan Ginseng Asia | 0:16:38 |
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