Mizbani caps Iranians mighty Le Tour show

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines  â€“ It was probably fancied the way the Le Tour should end – the vaunted Iranian riders basking in podium finish at the end of the four-day race marred by the near fatal fall by the erstwhile Korean leader.

Two-time UCI Asia Tour champion Gahder Mizbani put a blazing conclusion to Tabriz’ campaign as he conquered the Le Tour’s most demanding stage – a 132.7-kilometer rollercoaster ride from Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya to the City of Pines – to lead a 1-2 finish for the Iranians yesterday.

The 28-year-old Mizbani negotiated the so-called killer lap on the treacherous mountain roads of the Cordilleras in four hours, 30 minutes, 8 seconds, easily wiping out the 18-second deficit he faced at the start of the stage to rule the event presented by Air21 in partnership with San Miguel Corp. and Smart.

Mizbani (16:38:37) was joined in the medal podium by youthful teammate Amir Kolahdoz (16:39:14) while John Ebsen of Synergy Baku (16:45:33) took the bronze medal.

CCN’s Lee Ki Suk, holder of the yellow jersey in the first three stages, bowed out unceremoniously as he suffered a near-fatal accident in Ambuklao, some 40 kms to the finish. Lee overshot a dangerous curve and fell to a 20-foot ravine, his continued plummet stopped only by protruding vines. He was rescued by moto commissaire Marvin Adrid and with injured hand and cuts, he was deemed unfit to pursue the race further.

“It’s great to win my first race since returning from a back injury last year,” said Mizbani, who only got back on the saddle after a 1 and 1/2 year hiatus in this year’s Tour de Langkawi, where he finished 12th in the overall general classification and second among Asians.

Mizbani rode alongside 20-year-old Kolahdoz throughout most of the stage laced with difficult ascent and dangerous curves, keeping within striking distance of OCBC Singapore’s Thomas Rabou, who went on a solo breakaway from the 38th kilometer on.

The Iranians decided it was time to make it their show and blew past Thomas in the last 10 kilometers entering Baguio.  Mizbani and Kolahdoz crossed the finish line in Burnham Park together and raised each other’s arms upon completion of their mission.

“We let him (Rabou) go (in his solo breakaway most of the way) because he’s not a threat in the general classification,” said Mizbani of the OCBC bet who settled for third place in the stage with 4:30:28 and the Best Climber plum.

Mizbani and Kolahdoz led a virtual sweep for TPT, making true the pre-tourney prediction of American Vinyl coach Renato Dolosa that with the Iranians around, it would be down to a battle for second and third.

Tabriz ran away with the team general classification plum with 50:08:49, beating Phl continental team 7-Eleven Presented by Roadbike (50:51:54) and Brunei-based CCN (50:52:22).

Mizbani also secured the Best Sprinter accolade with 17 points while Kolahdoz went home with Best Young Rider accolades.

7-Eleven’s Mark Galedo emerged as the top Filipino performer at seventh overall (16:54:09) while teammate Baler Ravina abdicated the throne and finished 13th (16:58:42).

Galedo made a run at Stage Four honors and was in the thick of things until a crash in the downhill portion of the second KOM summit Kayapa stymied him. He hit a railing and tumbled over, taking a good three minutes to catch his breath, recover and ride back in. 

“Sayang, kung wala tayong disgrasya, baka kinaya pa. Ang laki na rin ng dipresenya kasi iniinda ko na (It was unfortunate we suffered an accident. I was really hampered),” said Galedo, showing a swollen abdomen after checking in fourth in the final stage.

Ravina got left behind while descending the third KOM summit in Ambuklao and tried in vain to catch up.

“Sinubukan ko pero hindi na kayang habulin, matulin masyado ang pacing nila mapa-ahon o lusong (I tried but their pacing is just too fast, they’re strong in ascent and descent),” said Ravina, consoling himself with a bronze finish for his team, 7-Eleven.

7-Eleven’s Ronnel Hualda finished 11th overall with 16:58:30 while Navy Standard Insurance’s Joel Calderon wound up 12th with 16:58:31 as Pinoys settled for crumbs in the wake of the Iranians’ show of force.

The Le Tour 2013 was sponsored by Standard Insurance, Jinbei, Victory Liner, San Mig Coffee, Magnolia Purewater, Red Media, Foton, Maynilad, Kia, Sign Media, Integrated Waste Management Inc., Eurotel, American Vinyl, LBC and 7-Eleven.