HA NOI — Le Van Duan of the Sai Gon Plant Protection won the ninth stage of the HCM City Television Cycling Cup yesterday, increasing his points to 102 to win the green jersey.

Teammate Mai Nguyen Hung finished fourth to keep yellow.

Uneven roads during the 185km stage from Pleiku City to Buon Ma Thuot City took a toll on the cyclists in the HCM City Television race. However, at the 40km mark, a group of six broke away from the pack and held a two-minute lead for 100km.

The breakaway group was Nguyen Quoc Dinh of Ben Tre, Nguyen Anh Tuan of Dong Nai, Le Quang Truc and Nguyen Van The of Binh Duong, and Quach Tinh Toan and Nguyen Thanh Tuan of Can Tho.

The main group eventually caught up until 20km from the finish when cyclists from ADC-Vinh Long Television and Domesco Pharmacy Dong Thap tried to cut loose from the pack.

However, riders from the Sai Gon Plant Protection stayed with them until the line was in view. Duan continued to be the best sprinter, crossing the line with a combined time of 4:43.27. Phan Thanh Dien and Nguyen Thanh Tam of An Giang Plant Protection took the second and third place respectively.

Hung has held the yellow jersey for all nine stages with an overall time of 26:38.52, followed by Nguyen Truong Tai of Domesco Pharmacy Dong Thap 26:39.9 and Tran Thanh Phu of Military Zone 7 26:39.17.

In the team's competition, Domesco Pharmacy Dong Thap took the lead with a combined time of 79:57.22, followed by An Giang Plant Protection 79:57.48 and Military Zone 7 79:59.17.

Cyclists will contest the 10th stage stretching 190km from Buon Ma Thuot City to Nha Trang City today. — VNS