Official Press Release for 2018 Tour de Timor
Dated 06/09/18 For Immediate Release
Day Three gave the riders a real test of mixed conditions as the race passed under the shadow of Timor-Leste’s sacred mountain and highest peak, Mt. Ramelau. With no serious injuries to date, all 115 riders set out at the scheduled 700 am start, cheered on by the local community of Suco Luirai, from the Aileu base camp.
Almost immediately the peloton was subjected to a grueling climb with a mixture of concrete, bulldust and compacted mud, with some of the ascent gradients measured at over 20%. This resulted the two top riders, David Vaz (3hrs 11mins) and Peter Arnott (3hrs 21mins) breaking away from the group. The rapidly fragmenting peloton splintered into three following groups including the third placed Australian, Cameron Judson (3hrs 28 mins), Jacinto da Costa (3 hrs 41 mins), and this year’s current pink jersey holder, Gina Ricardo (3hrs 50 mins). They were followed by the majority of riders as they struggled up the massive ascent.
As the top riders approached the second KOM and passed just under Timor-Leste’s highest peak the courses conditions changed again as the riders began their descent. The arm jarring descent through alpine temperatures and scenery was mostly made up of rock and scree but then, just before the valley of Maubisse, swopped for immaculate newly laid asphalt, allowing the top riders to hit over 70kms per hours as they flew through many mountain hamlets.
All the action continues tomorrow as the riders are faced with arguably the toughest stage of this year’s Tour de Timor.
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