Moazami adds 2016 Jelajah Malaysia victory to palmarės

Korean Sung Baek Park (KSPO) may have won the fifth and final stage in Kuala Terengganu to claim the points classification at the 2016 Jelajah Malaysia (UCI 2.2) on Saturday, but Iranian Arvin Moazami and his Pishgaman Giant teammates owned the nation’s oldest bike race overall.

Three days after winning stage 2 and lifting the yellow leader's jersey from teammate Rahim Emami (IRI), the reigning national time trial champion celebrated his biggest victory since winning the Tour of Singkarak (2.2) last year.

“I am very happy, the team worked hard to keep the jersey with us and we did it,” said the 26-year-old after five days and 750km in the bag.

“It was a challenging stage as a lot of breaks were attempted from early on.

“But there was no problems for us today, we just maintained our position throughout the day.”

Joining Moazami on the final podium was fellow Iranians Amir Kolahdozhagh in second and Hossaini Reza in third, with stage 1 winner and former race leader Emami (IRI) off the step in fourth. Four 7 Eleven-Sava RBP riders finished inside the top 10, with Mark Galedo (PHI) and Edgar Nohales Nieto (ESP) finishing fifth and sixth respectively, while Marcelo Felipe (PHI) and Rustom Lim (PHI) claimed eighth and ninth.

Best Malaysian rider Nik Mohamad Azman Zulkifli bridged the gap in seventh.

While a stage win in Asia’s oldest UCI stage race was the goal, Park is more than pleased with an unexpected points victory after leapfrogging teammate and compatriot Joon Yong Seo to take the blue jersey from Mohd Hariff Saleh (Terengganu Cycling Team) on the final day.

“We were looking for the stage win from the start, though everyone wanted to attack,” said Park.

“I just wanted a gap and we got away. I am very happy to get the blue jersey as well, as the stage win was actually the goal for me.

“It was closer than it looked, Dadi [Suryadi] wanted it as well and attacked with 5km to go but I managed to win it.”

Australian Jesse Ewart (7 Eleven-Sava RBP), 22, won the best young rider classification.

Stage 5 Classification

1. Sung Baek Park, KOR, KSPO, 3:14:37

2. Irwandie Lakasek, MAL, NSC Mycron, 0:02

3. Dadi Suryadi, INA, Terengganu Cycling Team, s.t.

General Classification

1. Arvin Moazami, IRI, Pishgaman Giant, 17:53:54

2. Amir Kolahdozhagh, IRI, Pishgaman Giant, 3:02

3. Hossaini Reza, IRI, Pishgaman Giant, 3:04

Classification Winners

Race Leader (Yellow Jersey): Arvin Moazami, IRI, Pishgaman Giant

Points Leader (Blue Jersey): Sung Baek Park, KOR, KSPO

Mountains leader (Polka-dot Jersey): Amir Kolahdozhagh, IRI, Pishgaman Giant

Best Young Rider (White Jersey): Jesse Ewart, AUS, 7 Eleven-Sava RBP

Best Malaysian Rider (Red Jersey): Nik Mohamad Azman Zulkifli, National Team

Teams classification: Pishgaman Giant, IRI, 53:43:53