Leader of the pack: Le Van Duan of Suntek Sao Viet HCM City leads the 51km stage around Xuan Huong Lake in Da Lat in just over one hour and eight minutes to win the ninth stage of the HCM City Television Cycling Cup yesterday. — File Photo

HCM CITY (VNS) —  Le Van Duan of Suntek Sao Viet HCM City won the ninth stage of the HCM City Television Cycling Cup yesterday.

Duan finished the 51km stage around Xuan Huong Lake in Da Lat in just over one hour and eight minutes.

Tran Van Quyen and Le Huu Phuoc of Military Zone 7 came second and third, having initially opened up a lead.

However, powerful Suntek Sao HCM City quickly narrowed the gap and caught up with them, and the whole peloton crossed the finish line together.

Duan took the win by a hair to complete his second stage victory.

Finishing in a crowd just seconds later, Ho Huynh Van An of An Giang Plant Protection retained the yellow jersey with an overall time 22:54.34.

Huynh Van Thuan of ADC-Vinh Long Television is just 1.2 seconds behind, with Pham Hoang Thai of Domesco Dong Thap Pharmacy in close pursuit.

An is also leading the competition for the green jersey.

Dinh Quoc Viet of Suntek Sao Viet HCM City, who was in tears after losing the yellow jersey to An on Sunday, managed to keep hold of the red jersey for the King of Mountains race.

In the team rankings, Suntek Sao Viet HCM City are out in the lead, followed by An Giang and Domesco Dong Thap.

The 10th stage today will see competitors compete over 110km from Da Lat to Bao Loc City. — VNS