HA NOI — Im Taeyeon of South Korea won the fourth stage of International Cycling in the Northern Delta Tournament while Trinh Duc Tam of Ha Noi retained the overall yellow jersey yesterday.

The 175km stage from Ha Long City to Mong Cai City saw the competition of South Korean Choi Sukyoon, Im Taeyeon and Do Tuan Anh of Domesco Pharmacy Dong Thap 1. After the first 20km, they broke away from the pack and created a gap of more than 3min.

When there was 40km to go, Darren Benson and John Ebsen of Dutch CCN and Nguyen Tan Hoai of Domesco Pharmacy Dong Thap 1 joined the leading group. In the bunch behind, Tam followed hard on Dutch Lex Nederlof's wheels to keep the two minute distance on the standings.

Six cyclists in the top group headed to the finish together but Taeyeon powered through to cross the finish line first in a combined time of 4hr 12.58min. Hoai and Sukyoon were in second and third, respectively.

Finishing the race in 4:16.00, Tam still kept the yellow jersey after four stages with an overall time of 12:04.28. Nederlof took the second place in 12:07.19 and Hoai was third in 12:09.39.

Domesco Pharmacy Dong Thap continued to win the team's competition, followed by CCN and An Giang Plant Protection.

Today cyclists will compete in the 173km fifth stage from Mong Cai City to Lang Son City. — VNS