Ariehaan claims time trial title
Indonesia's veteran warriors still the best South East Asia
Indonesians Ryan Ariehaan and Tonton Susanto scored an interesting 1-2 in Vientiane, Laos, in the 25th Sea Games, which are the "Olympics" of the 11 countries from South East Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Philippines, Indonesia, Brunei, Timor Leste).
"I was hoping to win but I didn’t expect it so much because I didn’t have a proper race program to prepare for these games," said Ariehaan, who is the defending champion for the road race, but had never won the time trial at the Sea Games before.
Previous champion Prajak Mahawong from Thailand was surprisingly beaten by Vietnamese Cong Hieu Mai for the bronze medal. "He never found the right rhythm," said Thailand’s French coach Sébastien Duclos.
Ariehaan posted an average speed of 48.413km/h despite the hot weather conditions and being known as a climber. At the age of 30, he remains one of the best riders in Asia. "I’m looking for a team for next year," said the former LeTua rider, who was has been left without a squad for more than one year already.
However, second-placed Susanto, 37, is set to return with Iranian outfit Azad University. With retirement around the corner, the winner of the 2008 Jelajah Malaysia reckons these Sea Games will be the last of his career.
Indonesia is also very likely to get the gold medal for the road race on Monday with sprinter Samai, who this year became the only South East Asian rider to have won a stage at Le Tour de Langkawi. As the course is relatively flat, a duel is expected with Malaysia’s Anuar Manan.
The road race peloton will be missing the participation of Cambodia and the Philippines due to national federation failures.
1 | Ryan Ariehaan (Indonesia) | 1:01:58 |
2 | Tonton Susanto (Indonesia) | 0:00:10 |
3 | Mai Cong Hieu (Vietnam) | 0:00:21 |
4 | Prajak Mahawong (Thailand) | 0:00:55 |
5 | Phuchong (Thailand) | 0:01:52 |
6 | Ng Yong Li (Malaysia) | 0:02:47 |
7 | Anousay (Lao People's Democratic Republic) | 0:04:41 |
8 | Jesus Da Costa (Timor-Leste) | 0:21:51 |
DNF | Somphavanh (Lao People's Democratic Republic) | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
The 2009 Cyclingnews reader poll
You can still enter the 2009 Cyclingnews reader poll and vote for your riders, teams, races, moments, equipment and photos of the year.
One lucky reader will win an Argon18 Krypton bike so get your entries in before the closing date - December 31, 2009.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Latest on Cyclingnews
-
WorldTour licence application delay allows Cédrine Kerbaol to terminate Ceratizit-WNT contract
Team owner 'disappointed' to lose Tour de France Femmes stage winner one year before planned end of contract -
Niels Albert: 'One day Thibau Nys will go in the direction' of Van der Poel and Van Aert
Two-time world champion says new European champion has the capability to get close to the level of the two superstars -
Tom Pidcock, Kasia Niewiadoma and Greg LeMond headline Rouleur Live in November
Running from November 14-16, dozens of cycling stars will descend on London amid over 80 brand exhibitors -
€50 million in six years and a €200 million buyout clause – Tadej Pogačar's new contract revealed
'The Tour will be central to my season in 2025' – Slovenian outlines new season goals